2026 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in California
[Agricultural Economics & Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural economics & business education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural economics & business students.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural economics & business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools
College Of The Sequoias earned the #1 spot for value among agricultural economics & business schools in California. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. 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.
Reedley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural economics & business, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Hartnell College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $9,024 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $45,032. Set against $9,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Woodland Community College landed the #6 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Set in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, with out-of-state students paying around $7,656. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,042.
Butte College placed #7 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Set against $13,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College landed the #8 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Allan Hancock College placed #9 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
California State University Fresno landed the #10 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $13,139. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $50,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #11 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, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Bakersfield College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,430, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. That is a strong return on a $9,419 median debt.
Feather River Community College District earned the #13 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Set in the rural area of Quincy, Feather River Community College District is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,465, compared with $10,435 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $14,750. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,142. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Modesto Junior College came in at #14 for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Hills College Coalinga earned the #15 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the town of Coalinga, West Hills College Coalinga is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,384, while out-of-state students pay about $10,954. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $9,920. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from West Hills College Coalinga generally make around $41,726. That is a strong return on a $9,920 median debt.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #16 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Cuesta College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,350, compared with $11,010 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Chico placed #18 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $11,250. 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. California State University Chico admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #19 for value in agricultural economics & business 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. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $14,404. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $14,500. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $52,778. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 31%.
More Agricultural Economics & Business Rankings
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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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
