2027 Best Value Farm/Farm & Ranch Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Farm/Farm & Ranch Management](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/farm-farm-and-ranch-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for farm/farm & ranch management students.
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2027 Best Value Farm/Farm & Ranch Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the farm/farm & ranch management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Farm/Farm & Ranch Management Schools
Riverland Community College earned the #1 spot for value among farm/farm & ranch management schools in the The Plains States Region. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in farm/farm & ranch management will find it at Northeast Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $10,575. Early-career farm/farm & ranch management graduates make about $36,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in farm/farm & ranch management will find it at South Central College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $13,139. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. Set against $13,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Cloud Technical And Community College earned it the #4 place for farm/farm & ranch management. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $16,734. Soon after graduation, farm/farm & ranch management degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $48,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ridgewater College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value farm/farm & ranch management schools. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $10,697. Early-career farm/farm & ranch management graduates make about $44,875. Set against $10,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bismarck State College earned the #6 position for value in farm/farm & ranch management this year. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates of Bismarck State College earn a median of $38,623 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in farm/farm & ranch management this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,491. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $13,946. Soon after graduation, farm/farm & ranch management degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $43,009. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt.
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #8 spot for farm/farm & ranch management value this year. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the farm/farm & ranch management program here. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $47,686 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value farm/farm & ranch management schools. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Farm/farm & Ranch Management graduates carry a median of $14,479 in student loans. Soon after graduation, farm/farm & ranch management degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler Community College earned the #10 position for value in farm/farm & ranch management this year. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $16,670. Early-career farm/farm & ranch management graduates make about $39,404. Set against $16,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa State University earned the #11 position for value in farm/farm & ranch management this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for farm/farm & ranch management graduates is $16,972. Early-career farm/farm & ranch management graduates make about $53,967. Set against $16,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
