2026 Best Value Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/agroecology-and-sustainable-agriculture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 103 schools to find the best return on investment for agroecology & sustainable agriculture students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agroecology & sustainable agriculture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Schools
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools in the United States. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates is $15,211. Early-career agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates make about $56,835. Set against $15,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Washington State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agroecology & sustainable agriculture, landing the #2 spot this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates is $17,395. Early-career agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates make about $56,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in agroecology & sustainable agriculture will find it at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,375, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $26,267 in student loans. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earn a median of $35,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,267 median debt. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates is $20,577. Soon after graduation, agroecology & sustainable agriculture degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $48,181. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $13,712 in student loans. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Mississippi State University earned the #6 position for value in agroecology & sustainable agriculture this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,969 to complete the agroecology & sustainable agriculture program here. Early-career agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates make about $47,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Puerto Rico Utuado earned the #7 position for value in agroecology & sustainable agriculture this year. Located in the rural area of Utuado, University Of Puerto Rico Utuado is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,906 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 64%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for agroecology & sustainable agriculture. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $62,869 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #9 among the best values for agroecology & sustainable agriculture. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agroecology & sustainable agriculture degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #10 spot for agroecology & sustainable agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agroecology & sustainable agriculture degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky landed the #11 spot for agroecology & sustainable agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates make about $35,167. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Morrisville State College landed the #12 spot for agroecology & sustainable agriculture value this year. Set in the rural area of Morrisville, Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,245 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agroecology & sustainable agriculture graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, agroecology & sustainable agriculture degree recipients from Morrisville State College generally make around $41,207. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Connecticut ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,123 to complete the agroecology & sustainable agriculture program here. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $38,189 early in their careers. Set against $22,123 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #14 spot for agroecology & sustainable agriculture value this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the agroecology & sustainable agriculture program here. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $29,231 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #15 spot for agroecology & sustainable agriculture value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the agroecology & sustainable agriculture program here. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $25,439 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Delaware Valley College placed #16 among the best values for agroecology & sustainable agriculture. Set in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,850. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture graduates of Delaware Valley College earn a median of $28,814 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Sterling College Vermont came in at #17 for value in agroecology & sustainable agriculture this year. Set in the rural area of Craftsbury Common, Sterling College Vermont is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,760. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,573 ten years after entry. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Other Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Degree Levels
Explore the best-value agroecology & sustainable agriculture schools at other degree levels:
View All Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.