Horticulture at Kirkwood Community College
serving 7,438 students in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Program Analysis
At $35,900 per year, Horticulture graduates from Kirkwood Community College earn slightly above the $31,250 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 34.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Horticulture programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Horticulture's career paths, with 28% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% 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.
This program is one of 9 schools offering Horticulture in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.
Five-year earnings of $40,840 are relatively flat compared to the $35,900 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.
Horticulture offers 12 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Horticulture graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | $87,980 | -1.3% | 63% |
| Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary | $86,350 | +4.1% | 50% |
| First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | $59,330 | +2.5% | 72% |
Horticulture Career Guide
Horticulture opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.
Compare & Explore
Horticulture Overview
Horticulture 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.