The economic benefits of a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree through the community college system in comparison to a high school diploma are well-documented. In contrast, relatively little quantitative information exists on the benefits of a specialized associate’s degree from a program based at a land-grant university. To address this gap in the literature, the Agricultural Institute (AGI), an Associate of Applied Science program at North Carolina State University, conducted a comprehensive impact study drawing on data from the NC Department of Commerce and a survey of alumni who graduated from 1962-2022. To assess the economic benefits of an AGI degree, we utilized the Department of Commerce’s NC Tower online reporting tool which provides aggregate information on education and employment outcomes for students from all North Carolina public universities, high schools, and community colleges. Comparisons across all three levels showed that AGI graduates have employment rates upon graduation comparable to graduates of bachelor’s degree programs and were more likely to be self-employed. In addition, they had earnings similar to bachelor’s degree students three years after graduation. However, the gap in lifetime earnings widened 10 years into their careers, with bachelor’s degree students earning approximately 20% higher annually. To examine additional long-term benefits of an AGI degree, we used the results of a 2023 alumni survey (N=237). Nearly 40% of respondents indicated that, were it not for the AGI, they would not have pursued an education beyond high school and approximately 80% of graduates pursued careers in agriculture in North Carolina. Study results reveal that the key economic benefits of an AGI degree are the reduced time to degree, savings on expenses associated with a four-year degree, and financial return after joining the labor force. Future research should explore potential factors contributing to long-term disparities in workplace earnings.