2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural production students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural production degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Production Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for agricultural production in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Lake Land College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural production will find it at Highland Community College Freeport, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,936, while out-of-state students pay about $7,360. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $13,783. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport generally make around $46,384. Set against $13,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Black Hawk College earned it the #4 place for agricultural production. Set in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $8,100. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Black Hawk College generally make around $44,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural production will find it at John Wood Community College, which ranked #5. John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Quincy. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,700. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $13,844 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $45,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #6 among the best values for agricultural production. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #8 spot for agricultural production value this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $11,384. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #9 for value in agricultural production this year. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public school located in the town of Olney. Students from in state pay about $5,260 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College generally make around $38,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #10 spot for agricultural production value this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #11 for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earned the #12 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $12,112. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,087. That is a strong return on a $12,112 median debt.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earned the #13 position for value in agricultural production this year. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,584, compared with $36,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $33,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan State University placed #14 among the best values for agricultural production. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $35,978. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
