2026 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural economics & business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools
Leading the list is Reedley College, our #1 best value for agricultural economics & business in the Far Western Region. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for agricultural economics & business. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural economics & business will find it at Hartnell College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $6,000. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Shasta College earned it the #4 place for agricultural economics & business. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $12,275. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Merced College one of the best values for agricultural economics & business. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $9,024 in student loans. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Merced College earn a median of $45,032 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College landed the #6 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $67,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Woodland Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,656. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,042 ten years after entry.
Sierra College landed the #8 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,446. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Allan Hancock College earned the #9 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
California State University Fresno earned the #10 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $13,139 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $50,100. Set against $13,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State University Bakersfield earned the #11 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
Bakersfield College earned the #12 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,430, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $9,419. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College landed the #13 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $16,486 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $39,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Feather River Community College District placed #14 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Feather River Community College District is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Quincy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,465, while out-of-state students pay about $10,435. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,142 ten years out. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College placed #15 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $8,575. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Hills College Coalinga ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the town of Coalinga, West Hills College Coalinga is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,384, compared with $10,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $9,920. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $41,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #17 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $20,500. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Cuesta College earned the #18 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Students from in state pay about $1,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,010. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $64,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Chico landed the #19 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,472 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $47,937. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Davis landed the #20 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #21 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $52,778. Set against $14,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Oregon State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $17,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $52,031. Set against $17,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
[Agricultural Economics & Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
