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2023 Best Agriculture Schools

130 Colleges
$37,342 Avg Salary
$19,867 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations School for You

In 2020-2021, 49,899 people earned a degree or certificate in agriculture and agriculture operations, making the major the #21 most popular in the United States.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Agriculture Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 130 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the United States

Check out the agriculture and agriculture operations programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools

#1

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, ND

Our 2023 rankings named Bismarck State College the best school in the United States for agriculture and agriculture operations students. BSC is a small public school located in the city of Bismarck.

On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from BSC take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#2

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Cornell University is a great place for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca.

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations majors at Cornell take out an average of $14,290 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $485, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Cornell University Report

#3

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

The excellent programs at Ridgewater College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best agriculture and agriculture operations schools in the United States. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in the town of Willmar.

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations majors at Ridgewater College take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Ridgewater College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Agriculture Schools list. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Provo.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Brigham Young University - Provo Report

The excellent programs at North Shore Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best agriculture and agriculture operations schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at North Shore Community College

South Dakota State University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best agriculture and agriculture operations programs. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the town of Brookings.

After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from South Dakota State carry an average student debtload of $23,230. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $184, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at South Dakota State University

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. UW - Madison is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at UW - Madison accumulate an average of around $21,967 in student debt.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at University of Wisconsin - Madison Report

Iowa State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. Iowa State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Ames.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Iowa State accumulate an average of around $22,502 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $208, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Iowa State University

Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Watertown, LATI is a public college with a small student population.

On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from LATI take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Lake Area Technical Institute

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #10 on this year’s Best Agriculture Schools list. UW - River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of River Falls.

On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from UW - River Falls take out $22,479 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $115.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best agriculture and agriculture operations programs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accumulate an average of around $19,880 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $353.

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Illinois State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Illinois State accumulate an average of around $18,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $383, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Illinois State University Report

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best agriculture and agriculture operations programs. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from North Dakota State University carry an average student debtload of $21,016.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report

With a ranking of #14, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on this year’s best schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Located in the large city of Lincoln, UNL is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at UNL accumulate an average of around $20,507 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $187, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at University of Nebraska - Lincoln Report

#15

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Agriculture Schools list. Purdue is a fairly large public school located in the city of West Lafayette.

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations majors at Purdue take out an average of $18,977 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $364.

Read More…

#16

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS

Kansas State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. K -State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Manhattan.

While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at K -State accumulate an average of around $22,909 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $258, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #17 on this year’s Best Agriculture Schools list. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Platteville.

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations majors at UW - Platteville take out an average of $19,213 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at University of Wisconsin - Platteville Report

North Dakota State College of Science came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College of Science is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from North Dakota State College of Science carry an average student debtload of $11,000.

Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at North Dakota State College of Science Report

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from Texas A&M College Station carry an average student debtload of $19,787. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $286.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Agriculture students that almost earned our Best Agriculture Schools award.

Rank College Location
20 Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Wooster, OH
21 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
22 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
23 The University of Findlay Findlay, OH
24 University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MN
25 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
26 California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations by Region

View the Best Agriculture Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians 8,646
Animal Science 8,294
Agricultural Economics & Business 8,098
General Agriculture 3,370
Horticulture 3,234
Plant Sciences 3,175
Agricultural Production 3,066
Food Science Technology 2,532
Agricultural Mechanization 1,280
Animal Services 990
Agricultural Public Services 845
Other Agriculture 602
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs 527
Soil Sciences 406
Food Processing 237
International Agriculture 122
Veterinary Administrative Services 118

Majors Similar to Agriculture & Agriculture Operations

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences 254,454
Engineering 198,468
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 177,778
Engineering Technologies 85,188
Mathematics & Statistics 52,396

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to W.carter.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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