2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Agricultural Production Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/agricultural-production-operations-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural production operations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value agricultural production operations schools.
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2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural production operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools
Garden City Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production operations schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $35,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for agricultural production operations. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $42,392. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
North Iowa Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production operations, landing the #3 spot this year. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production operations graduates is $12,043. Soon after graduation, agricultural production operations degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar one of the best values for agricultural production operations. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,770. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $14,348 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $38,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural production operations will find it at Cloud County Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production operations graduates is $12,839. Soon after graduation, agricultural production operations degree recipients from Cloud County Community College generally make around $53,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington earned the #6 position for value in agricultural production operations this year. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. In-state tuition and fees average $6,420, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Typical student debt for agricultural production operations graduates is $16,126. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn a median of $45,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,126 median debt.
Iowa Lakes Community College landed the #7 spot for agricultural production operations value this year. Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Estherville. Students from in state pay about $7,392 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,872. Students borrow a median of $20,876 to complete the agricultural production operations program here. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Iowa Lakes Community College earn a median of $46,937 early in their careers. Set against $20,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture placed #8 among the best values for agricultural production operations. Located in the rural area of Curtis, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,926. Students borrow a median of $11,629 to complete the agricultural production operations program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production operations degree recipients from Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture generally make around $24,427. That is a strong return on a $11,629 median debt.
South Dakota State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production operations schools. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production operations graduates is $24,989. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
