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Agricultural Production Operations at Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, WI · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 3,479 in Wausau, WI.

Program Analysis

Northcentral Technical College's Agricultural Production Operations graduates start at $28,132/yr, trailing the $33,953 national average by 17%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 38.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Production Operations programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Production Operations's career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $7,250 in median debt clears fast against $28,132 in annual earnings.

Ranked #8 of 12 Agricultural Production Operations programs, Northcentral Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Agricultural Production Operations offers 7 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
49
Score
50
High End
Earnings $28,132/yr (-17% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (132,800 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$294K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
38.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
10 of 10
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)
$7,722
Out-of-state: $11,230
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,250
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Agricultural Production Operations graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830 +4.0% 52%
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980 -1.3% 63%
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350 +4.1% 50%
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
$100,830
+4.0% growth 52% AI-proof
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

View all 10 career paths with full salary data →

Agricultural Production Operations Career Guide

Agricultural Production Operations opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Agricultural Production Operations career guide →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Production Operations Overview

View all 12 schools offering Agricultural Production Operations →

Agricultural Production Operations at Other Schools

Kirkwood Community College ($42,392) Mitchell Technical College ($40,871) Northeast Iowa Community College ($38,924) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($36,083) Michigan State University ($35,978) North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($35,198) Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute ($33,940) Ohio State University-Main Campus ($33,940)

Other Majors at Northcentral Technical College

Nursing ($63,958) Business Administration ($60,405) Criminal Justice ($59,645) Medical Assisting ($53,523) Drafting & Design Technology ($53,105) Dental Assisting ($48,083) Precision Metalworking ($47,718) Electromechanical Technology ($47,684)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Agricultural Production Operations degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northcentral Technical College's Agricultural Production Operations program score?
At 49/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Agricultural Production Operations programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Agricultural Production Operations at Northcentral Technical College?
AI exposure of 38% is a real factor. For Northcentral Technical College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($294,322) and pessimistic ($294,322) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Agricultural Production Operations at Northcentral Technical College?
Median debt of just $7,250 against $28,132/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.
Can you still earn well with Agricultural Production Operations from Northcentral Technical College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Northcentral Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Agricultural Production Operations graduates?
There are 7 registered apprenticeships connected to Agricultural Production Operations occupations, such as Beekeeper and Bison Herd Manager. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Agricultural Production Operations workers?
At 132,800 annual openings, Agricultural Production Operations has a very large employment base. Northcentral Technical College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →