2026 Best Value Aquaculture Schools
[Aquaculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/aquaculture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong aquaculture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value aquaculture schools.
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Finding the Best Value Aquaculture School for You
The aquaculture program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Aquaculture Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Aquaculture Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Aquaculture Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in aquaculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Aquaculture Schools
Leading the list is College Of Southern Idaho, our #1 best value for aquaculture in the United States. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the aquaculture program here. Soon after graduation, aquaculture degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $39,099. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earned it the #2 place for aquaculture. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pine Bluff. Students from in state pay about $9,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Typical student debt for aquaculture graduates is $26,267. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $35,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in aquaculture will find it at Carteret Community College, which ranked #3. Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Morehead City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $8,222. Aquaculture graduates carry a median of $5,566 in student loans. Aquaculture graduates of Carteret Community College earn a median of $48,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,566 median debt.
University Of Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in aquaculture, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the aquaculture program here. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Morrisville State College earned it the #5 place for aquaculture. Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Morrisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $19,245. Aquaculture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Aquaculture graduates of Morrisville State College earn a median of $30,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Morrisville State College admits about 92% of applicants.
Clemson University landed the #6 spot for aquaculture value this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Aquaculture graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, aquaculture degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $30,825. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Auburn University came in at #7 for value in aquaculture this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete the aquaculture program here. Early-career aquaculture graduates make about $37,698. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Aquaculture. See all related 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
