by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 63 U.S. colleges awarded 970 degrees and certificates in Agricultural Production Operations. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 35% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Production Operations Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing, rising to $50,144 after four years.
A degree in Agricultural Production Operations involves the study of Agricultural Production Operations, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Planning, Economics, And Use Of Facilities, Natural Resources, Equipment, Labor, And Capital To Produce Plant And Animal Products, And That May Prepare Individuals For Work In Farming, Ranching, And Agribusiness.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, agricultural production operations draws strong interest, with 970 degrees awarded annually. 63 colleges award agricultural production operations degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 96.
By level, the 970 awards include 217 certificates, 336 associate degrees, 93 bachelor’s degrees and 323 master’s degrees.
Women earned 41% of agricultural production operations degrees and certificates in the latest year (401 of 970). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (820) and Hispanic or Latino (58), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Agricultural Production Operations Schools ranking, including 11 for associate degrees and 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks agricultural production operations schools within 9 states. In all, 63 colleges offer agricultural production operations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common agricultural production operations credential is the associate degree: 336 of the 970 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to agricultural production operations call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, Administration and Management and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an agricultural production operations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 217 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 336 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 93 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 323 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to agricultural production operations, at 49.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 49.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Agricultural Production Operations, with an average median salary of $62,795; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Horticulture Manager, Agribusiness Professor, Horticulture Instructor and Plant Science Professor.
The occupation related to agricultural production operations with the most projected jobs is Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing their program, $50,144 after four years and $47,551 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $50,144 |
| 5 years | $47,551 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to agricultural production operations, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Agricultural Production Operations has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 2,852 degrees a year; the largest are Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production (862), Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (774) and Crop Production (526). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production | 862 |
| Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture | 774 |
| Crop Production | 526 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management | 485 |
| Aquaculture | 132 |
| Dairy Husbandry and Production | 63 |
| Agricultural Production Operations, Other | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
