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First, some facts. Of the Agricultural Business and Management graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 220 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 61%, Agricultural Business and Management graduates have a lower likelihood (-6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 15% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Agricultural Business and Management graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 84% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2018 from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Agricultural Business and Management. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONCredit Development Associate CoBank Jan 2019 - Oct 2020 Associate, Capital Markets  CoBank Oct 2020 - Oct 2022 VP - Purchased Portfolio Manager, Capital Markets American AgCredit Oct 2022 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the career paths of individuals who graduated with a degree in Agricultural Business and Management, it's clear that the jobs they end up in can vary quite a bit. A few common roles appear, mainly involving grain merchandising, sales positions in agriculture, agronomy, and various roles within agricultural finance. You might think that nearly everyone would work directly in agriculture, but that's not the case. It seems like a good chunk of these graduates find themselves in jobs that don't require a day-to-day application of their degree, which is a bit surprising.
For instance, positions such as Grain Merchandiser and Agronomist are highly relevant; they draw directly from the principles learned during their studies. Roles like these require a strong understanding of agriculture and business, putting graduates' skills to effective use. However, many grads have ended up in jobs that are only tangentially related, like those in general sales or customer service roles where agricultural knowledge plays a minor role. While those positions develop useful skills, they don't leverage the specific agricultural business expertise that the degree aims to cultivate.
Moreover, there are quite a few graduates working in fields like insurance, real estate, or even roles completely unrelated to agriculture. For instance, some graduates hold sales positions in non-agricultural sectors, such as retail. Those jobs may require some business acumen, but they don’t make use of the intricate knowledge about the agricultural sector that grads worked hard to acquire. So, while there are clear avenues that relate closely to Agricultural Business and Management and allow for direct application of the degree, many graduates are carving out paths that don't align all that closely, showcasing a disconnect between their education and their actual jobs.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Agricultural Business and Management graduates:
When we look at the career trajectories of people who graduated with a degree in Agricultural Business and Management, we can see a mix of promising and slightly concerning trends. Many graduates tend to start their careers in roles that are quite relevant to agriculture, such as grain merchandiser, precision farming specialist, or agronomist. These first jobs, like those taken by recent graduates in areas like merchandising and precision agriculture, often indicate that these individuals are stepping into positions where their educational background is actively utilized.
However, as we expand our view to about five to ten years after graduation, the picture becomes more complex. While several alumni climb the career ladder into valuable managerial roles or even start their enterprises, there are still many who end up in unrelated fields or jobs that don’t necessarily align with their degree. For instance, some graduates from major universities have taken positions as sales representatives or in entirely different sectors, sometimes moving far from their agricultural roots. In the worst cases, we see graduates stuck in roles that don’t leverage their degrees, such as project management in unrelated fields or entry-level positions that have little to do with agricultural business.
There is definitely a notable difference based on the institution attended and the specific trajectory chosen. Many who land in the agriculture sector, especially in specialized areas such as agronomy or farm management, seem to have careers that are on point with their studies. In contrast, others who venture into general business or unrelated industries may find themselves expanding their skill sets but potentially losing their connection to agriculture. Overall, while the agricultural job market has its strong points, particularly for those who directly apply their education, there is a significant number of individuals whose career paths divert from what they trained for. It’s definitely a mixed bag, and future graduates should be aware of these trends as they plan their careers.
Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business and Management can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It’s not as cut-and-dry as some hardcore science majors, but it can still challenge you with a mix of business principles, economics, and agricultural science. If you’re good with numbers and enjoy practical applications, you might find it reasonably manageable. However, there can be some tougher courses that dive deep into things like supply chain management or farm economics that require more than just surface-level understanding. Overall, I'd say it's about average in terms of difficulty, especially if you've got a genuine interest in the subject and are willing to put in the effort!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Business and Management.
Looking at these graduates' career paths, you can get a sense of their financial journeys. The ones with multiple roles and continuous upward movement, like the graduates from Colorado State University and Michigan State University, likely have earned decent money and are building substantial careers. Those who have owned businesses or held senior positions, like the owners at Bailey's Environmental Services or Red Stick Painting Co., seem to have found ways to make good income from their ventures.
On the flip side, some profiles show individuals who have bounced around in entry-level or part-time jobs for a while, such as the graduates from Arkansas State University and those in teaching roles after graduation. These positions may not lead to high earnings initially, especially if they are exploring various fields. Overall, successful financial outcomes appear to be tied to those who leveraged their degrees into roles with growth potential or ownership opportunities, while others may need more time to establish themselves financially.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Business and Management. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Agricultural Business and Management (ordered by the average relevance score of their Agricultural Business and Management graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 North Carolina State University
|
54 | 13 |