Applied Horticulture at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Williamsport, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services

a smaller institution with 4,254 students in Williamsport, PA.

Program Analysis

At $30,185/yr, Applied Horticulture graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology land near the $31,250 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Applied Horticulture's career paths, with 28% 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 $12,000 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 Applied Horticulture in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Applied Horticulture offers 12 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
50
Low End
53
Score
54
High End
Earnings $30,185/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (72% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (408,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$316K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
8.8x
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)
$35,880
Out-of-state: $51,360
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Applied 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%
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
$87,980
-1.3% growth 63% AI-proof
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
$86,350
+4.1% growth 50% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
$59,330
+2.5% growth 72% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

About Applied Horticulture Careers

Your career in horticulture starts with your hands in the soil. As an entry-level landscaping or groundskeeping worker, you’ll spend your days outdoors operating mowers and trimmers, planting seasonal beds, and installing irrigation systems. You’ll learn the trade from the ground up, transforming ordinary spaces into beautiful, functional landscapes.

Read the full Applied Horticulture career guide →

Compare & Explore

Applied Horticulture Overview

Applied Horticulture at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pennsylvania College of Technology

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 Pennsylvania College of Technology's Applied Horticulture program score?
A score of 53/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Pennsylvania College of Technology trails the majority of Applied Horticulture programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Can I learn Applied Horticulture through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 12 registered apprenticeships connected to Applied Horticulture occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Applied Horticulture workers?
The career paths mapped to Applied Horticulture have roughly 408,500 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 →