Agricultural Business and Management at Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Public · Associate Degree

serving 7,438 students in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Program Analysis

At $40,835 per year, Agricultural Business and Management graduates from Kirkwood Community College earn slightly above the $36,297 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 35.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Business and Management programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Business and Management's career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $11,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #9 of 18 Agricultural Business and Management programs, Kirkwood Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Agricultural Business and Management, including Beekeeper (median $87,980/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $40,835/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (52% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (398,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$427K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
35.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,960
Out-of-state: $15,936
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Kirkwood Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Kirkwood Community College's Agricultural Business and Management program score?
At 66/100, Kirkwood Community College's Agricultural Business and Management program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Agricultural Business and Management?
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.
What's the typical debt for Agricultural Business and Management graduates from Kirkwood Community College?
Median debt of just $11,000 against $40,835/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Agricultural Business and Management?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Agricultural Business and Management career paths, including Beekeeper. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →