2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in Illinois
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural production students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in Illinois
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
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, 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. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production, landing the #3 spot this year. Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Freeport. Students from in state pay about $4,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,360. Students borrow a median of $13,783 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Highland Community College Freeport earn a median of $46,384 early in their careers. 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. Located in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,100 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $11,340. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $44,286. Set against $11,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John Wood Community College earned it the #5 place for agricultural production. Set in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,700. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $13,844. Agricultural Production graduates of John Wood Community College earn a median of $45,748 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,844 median debt.
College Of Dupage landed the #6 spot for agricultural production value this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $12,492. Agricultural Production graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #7 for value in agricultural production this year. Located in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,260, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $9,434. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $38,331. Set against $9,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Agricultural Production Rankings
View All Agricultural Production Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
