Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services at Oregon State University
OR · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 01.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degree from Oregon State University earn a median salary of $51,851 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,364. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$36,903
Typical Career
$51,851
Top Performers
$65,810
Estimated break-even: 10.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$346
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,321. Most students can comfortably afford about a $346 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$45,364
Nominal: $51,851 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $32,094 | $42,073 | $53,060 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,903 | $51,851 | $65,810 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $49,073 | $63,793 | $87,420 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $51,851 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $51,851 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430)
= $45,364 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program prepares students for diverse career paths, with top industries including Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (13.9%), Health Care & Social Assistance (13.1%), and Educational Services (13.0%). The estimated break-even point for graduates versus those with only a high school diploma is approximately 10.5 years, indicating a moderate return on investment. Overall, while the program offers a solid foundation for entering various sectors, prospective students should weigh the long-term financial benefits against the cost of education and living expenses in Oregon.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services degree at Oregon State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.