2023 Best Value Agriculture Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Agriculture Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 130 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for agriculture and agriculture operations students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 15% Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
Our analysis found Ridgewater College to be the best value school for agriculture and agriculture operations students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in the town of Willmar.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations majors at Ridgewater College take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Ridgewater College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Agriculture Schools list.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southeast Community College Area is a great value for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. While working on their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Southeast Community College accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Central Community College is a great value for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island.
Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees each year.
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Out of the 130 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the # 4 spot on the list. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, BYU also is in the top 20% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bismarck State College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture Schools list. BSC is a small public school located in the small city of Bismarck.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BSC are $6,930 a year. On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from BSC take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, BSC also is in the top 5% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Bismarck State College Report
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Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture Schools ranking. Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a small public school located in the remote area of Curtis.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture are $5,483 per year. The average amount in student loans that agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture take out is $11,286.
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Northeast Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. It came in at #7 on the list. Northeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Norfolk.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northeast are $5,010 per year. The average amount in student loans that agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Northeast take out is $9,834.
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Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the town of Watertown, LATI is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LATI are $6,718 a year. On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from LATI take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, LATI also is in the top 15% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #9, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on this year’s best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Located in the distant town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College of Science is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State College of Science are $6,606 a year. After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from North Dakota State College of Science carry an average student debtload of $11,000.
North Dakota State College of Science excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Agriculture Schools list.
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Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture Schools ranking. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year.
Southwest Tech also claimed a spot on our Best Agriculture Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value agriculture and agriculture operations programs. NICC is a small public school located in the rural area of Calmar.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NICC are $6,840 a year. After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from NICC carry an average student debtload of $10,054.
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Kirkwood Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kirkwood Community College are $7,072 per year. The average amount in student loans that agriculture and agriculture operations majors at Kirkwood Community College take out is $10,875.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture Schools list. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CVTC are $6,683 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, CVTC also did well on our Best Agriculture Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Chippewa Valley Technical College
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With a ranking of #14, Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well on this year’s best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. BYU - I is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU - I are $4,416 per year. On average, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from BYU - I take out $19,825 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Mitchell Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the rural area of Mitchell, Mitchell Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Mitchell Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $7,524 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates from Mitchell Tech carry an average student debtload of $12,000.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Mitchell Tech also did well on our Best Agriculture Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Mitchell Technical College Report
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture Schools list. FVTC is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FVTC also is in the top 10% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Fox Valley Technical College
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With a ranking of #17, North Shore Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Shore Community College are $10,920 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Shore Community College also is in the top 20% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
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Southeast Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Sioux Falls, Southeast Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Tech are $7,650 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Southeast Tech also is in the top 15% of our Best Agriculture Schools ranking.
Full Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Southeast Technical College Report
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South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for agriculture and agriculture operations students. It came in at #19 on the list. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the town of Brookings.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 per year. 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.
South Dakota State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Agriculture Schools list.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Agriculture Schools award.
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
20 | Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN |
21 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA |
22 | University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima, OH |
23 | University of Minnesota - Crookston | Crookston, MN |
24 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH |
25 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND |
26 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia, MS |
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations by Region
View the Best Value Agriculture Schools for a specific region near you.
Region |
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Southeast |
New England |
Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
Middle Atlantic |
Far Western US |
Southwest |
Great Lakes |
More Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings
Majors Related to Agriculture & Agriculture Operations
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.
- 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.