Compare 6 Agriculture, General. programs in the West. Average earnings: $43,656.
With top graduates earning $58K, Agriculture, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo leads with Agriculture graduates earning $57,972, well above the $44K average across all programs. California State University-Chico follows at $53,419, proving that strong outcomes aren't limited to highly selective institutions—Chico accepts 94% of applicants while delivering competitive earnings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates borrow $18,500 and face just a 7.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Cal State Chico leads with a 16.3% family burden compared to Cal Poly's 22.8%, showing the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $57,972
Strong outcomes with 94% acceptance
7.2% payment burden | Excellent
16.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $57,972 | 27 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $53,419 | 69 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | |
| #3 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $50,111 | 87 | $21,221 | Good | $28,923 | High |
| #4 | $43,101 | 17 | $13,540 | Good | $12,700 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $30,666 | 27 | $20,500 | High | $20,688 | High | |
| #6 | $26,666 | 20 | $17,095 | High | $10,166 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
