2027 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in Illinois
[Agricultural Economics & Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural economics & business education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value agricultural economics & business schools.
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2027 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural economics & business degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for agricultural economics & business in Illinois. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Lake Land College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $7,769. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural economics & business will find it at Black Hawk College, which ranked #3. Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Moline. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,100. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & 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 #4 place for agricultural economics & business. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $7,875. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural economics & business will find it at John Wood Community College, which ranked #5. 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 economics & business graduates is $13,844. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from John Wood Community College generally make around $45,748. That is a strong return on a $13,844 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College placed #6 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $8,478. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,478 median debt.
Rend Lake College earned the #7 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, with out-of-state students paying around $7,800. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $42,770. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earned the #8 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,260, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $38,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Illinois Central College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #11 among the best values for agricultural economics & business. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $15,000. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $40,194. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural economics & business schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $55,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois College earned the #13 position for value in agricultural economics & business this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,676. Students borrow a median of $26,922 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Illinois College earn a median of $41,184 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
More Agricultural Economics & Business Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
