U.S. median for this major: $52,932.
College Scorecard field of study; 160 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 33% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,699.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,254. College Scorecard.
Western Illinois University Agriculture: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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.
Agriculture nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Western Illinois University'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 | $6,941 | $30,402 | 1.3 years |
| $30–48k | $8,787 | $38,487 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $12,062 | $52,832 | 2.3 years |
| $75–110k | $16,294 | $71,368 | 3.2 years |
| $110k+ | $19,701 | $86,290 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (31% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Agriculture graduates 4 years after graduating ($58,333) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,536 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.
Agriculture at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Agriculture graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University | $63,600 | $18,750 | $19,398 | 65% |
| 2 | Western Illinois University | $58,333 | $18,969 | $12,937 | 45% |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $57,596 | $18,000 | $13,297 | 62% |
2 more Illinois colleges offer Agriculture but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Agriculture graduates
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 Western Illinois University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Illinois University
- Acceptance rate: 71% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 45% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,163
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Western Illinois University Agriculture questions
How much do Western Illinois University Agriculture graduates earn?
Agriculture graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median $58,333 four years after graduating and $48,509 one year after. The U.S. median for Agriculture graduates across 43 colleges is $52,932.
How much debt do Western Illinois University Agriculture graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Agriculture graduates of Western Illinois University is $18,969, about 33% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,699.
Is Western Illinois University a good school for Agriculture in Illinois?
On pay, Agriculture graduates of Western Illinois University earn $58,333 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Illinois colleges ($58,333) and $5,401 above the U.S. median ($52,932). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Illinois University rank for Agriculture in Illinois?
Of 3 Illinois colleges reporting Agriculture graduate earnings, Western Illinois University ranks 2nd. The highest is Illinois State University at $63,600.
What jobs do Agriculture graduates get?
A common career is soil and plant scientists, with a median wage of $79,490 in Illinois and $78,850 nationally.
Is Western Illinois University the right fit for your family?
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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: “Western Illinois University Agriculture: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-illinois-university/majors/agriculture (College Scorecard and BLS data).