Agricultural Business and Management at Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 2,528 students in Waterloo, IA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,472 put Hawkeye Community College's Agricultural Business and Management program 31% above the national median of $36,297 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 39.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Agricultural Business and Management career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

A #8 ranking among 18 Agricultural Business and Management programs places Hawkeye Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

For students considering alternatives, 4 registered apprenticeship programs align with Agricultural Business and Management careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
67
Low End
70
Score
72
High End
Earnings $47,472/yr (31% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (52% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (398,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$47K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
39.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$12,616
Out-of-state: $13,196
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,029
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Agricultural Business and Management graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980 +2.1% 52%
Economists $115,440 +1.2% 39%
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980 -1.3% 63%
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980
+2.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Economists
$115,440
+1.2% growth 39% AI-proof
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$87,980
-1.3% growth 63% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

About Agricultural Business and Management Careers

Your office could be the cab of a pickup truck, where you’ll spend your days checking irrigation systems, analyzing soil data on a tablet, and negotiating prices for your crops. Or you might be on the road as a wholesale sales representative, visiting farms and co-ops to demonstrate new seed varieties, manage client accounts, and write up orders.

Read the full Agricultural Business and Management career guide →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Business and Management Overview

Agricultural Business and Management at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hawkeye Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 70/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Agricultural Business and Management at Hawkeye Community College?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Hawkeye Community College's Agricultural Business and Management graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Agricultural Business and Management to AI automation?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Can I learn Agricultural Business and Management through an apprenticeship instead?
Agricultural Business and Management connects to 4 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Agricultural Business and Management workers?
The career paths mapped to Agricultural Business and Management have roughly 398,100 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →