2027 Best Value Agricultural Business Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Agricultural Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/agricultural-business/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural business education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural business students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Agricultural Business Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural business degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Business Schools
Lake Land College earned the #1 spot for value among agricultural business schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $30,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Black Hawk College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural business schools. Set in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $8,100. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the agricultural business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Black Hawk College generally make around $44,286. Set against $11,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kaskaskia College earned it the #3 place for agricultural business. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Agricultural Business graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
John Wood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural business, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,700. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $13,844. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $45,748. That is a strong return on a $13,844 median debt.
Lakeshore Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural business schools. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Agricultural Business graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
Rend Lake College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural business schools. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $8,688. Agricultural Business graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of $42,770 early in their careers. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College came in at #7 for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $8,478. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $25,842. That is a strong return on a $8,478 median debt.
Vincennes University earned the #8 position for value in agricultural business this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for agricultural business. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $93,216. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Illinois Central College earned the #10 position for value in agricultural business this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural business schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $49,868. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute came in at #12 for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,584, while out-of-state students pay about $36,362. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earn a median of $34,747 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Illinois College landed the #13 spot for agricultural business value this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,676. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $26,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $41,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #14 among the best values for agricultural business. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $24,125. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $57,023. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wilmington College earned the #15 position for value in agricultural business this year. Located in the town of Wilmington, Wilmington College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,082. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $24,525. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Wilmington College generally make around $41,957. That is a strong return on a $24,525 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
