U.S. median for this major: $56,448.
College Scorecard field of study; 36 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 25% 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 $33,642. College Scorecard.
UIUC Plant Sciences: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Illinois 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 UIUC'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 | $2,038 | $8,458 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $5,373 | $22,298 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $7,982 | $33,125 | 1.2 years |
| $75–110k | $15,152 | $62,881 | 2.3 years |
| $110k+ | $28,761 | $119,358 | 4.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (73% 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 ($63,279) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $27,482 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 UIUC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UIUC
- Acceptance rate: 42% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 85% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $81,054
- Full cost breakdown · all 102 majors · overview
Related majors at UIUC
- Animal Sciences$48,026
- Agricultural Business$86,646
- Agriculture—
- Food Science and Technology$66,226
UIUC Plant Sciences questions
How much do UIUC Plant Sciences graduates earn?
Plant Sciences graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median $63,279 four years after graduating and $45,411 one year after. The U.S. median for Plant Sciences graduates across 44 colleges is $56,448.
How much debt do UIUC Plant Sciences graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Plant Sciences graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is $15,750, about 25% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,500.
Where does UIUC rank for Plant Sciences in Illinois?
Of 1 Illinois colleges reporting Plant Sciences graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Plant Sciences graduates get?
A common career is conservation scientists, with a median wage of $64,470 in the Champaign-Urbana, IL area 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: “University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Plant Sciences: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/plant-sciences (College Scorecard and BLS data).