U.S. median for this major: $56,448.
College Scorecard field of study; 147 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,500.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,018. College Scorecard.
ISU Plant Sciences: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Plant Sciences nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses ISU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,582 | $45,714 | 1.9 years |
| $30–48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 2.7 years |
| $75–110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 3.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 4.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Plant Sciences graduates 4 years after graduating ($60,997) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,336 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Plant Sciences graduates
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Soil and Plant Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,386
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Animal Sciences$51,644
- Agricultural Business$67,529
- Food Science and Technology$65,943
ISU Plant Sciences questions
How much do ISU Plant Sciences graduates earn?
Plant Sciences graduates of Iowa State University earn a median $60,997 four years after graduating and $49,393 one year after. The U.S. median for Plant Sciences graduates across 44 colleges is $56,448.
How much debt do ISU Plant Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Plant Sciences graduates of Iowa State University is $20,500, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,500.
Where does ISU rank for Plant Sciences in Iowa?
Of 1 Iowa colleges reporting Plant Sciences graduate earnings, Iowa State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Plant Sciences graduates get?
A common career is conservation scientists, with a median wage of $69,240 in Iowa and $73,010 nationally. Others include soil and plant scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Iowa State University Plant Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/plant-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).