2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in California
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural production education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural production students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Production Schools
Leading the list is College Of The Sequoias, our #1 best value for agricultural production in California. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moorpark College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural production will find it at Reedley College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $6,500. Agricultural Production graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Victor Valley College earned the #6 position for value in agricultural production this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $7,995. Agricultural Production graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College earned the #7 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Students borrow a median of $9,024 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $45,032. That is a strong return on a $9,024 median debt.
Bakersfield College earned the #8 position for value in agricultural production this year. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,430, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Bakersfield College earn a median of $86,312 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Feather River Community College District landed the #9 spot for agricultural production value this year. Located in the rural area of Quincy, Feather River Community College District is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,465, while out-of-state students pay about $10,435. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $14,750. Median earnings reach $38,142 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
West Hills College Coalinga ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. West Hills College Coalinga is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Coalinga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,384, while out-of-state students pay about $10,954. Students borrow a median of $9,920 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from West Hills College Coalinga generally make around $41,726. Set against $9,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College earned the #11 position for value in agricultural production this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Desert ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,326, while out-of-state students pay about $10,174. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $7,826 median debt.
University Of California Davis placed #13 among the best values for agricultural production. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $13,712. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $53,749. That is a strong return on a $13,712 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #14 for value in agricultural production this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $18,559 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $40,920. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
More Agricultural Production Rankings
View All Agricultural Production Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 35 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.
