2027 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 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 The Plains States 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
Garden City Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools in the The Plains States Region. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. Students from in state pay about $3,690 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $35,476. Set against $11,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $14,935 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $44,877. Set against $14,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $42,392 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 Ridgewater College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $15,556 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $42,178. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $12,043. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from North Iowa Area Community College generally make around $44,466. Set against $12,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian Hills Community College placed #6 among the best values for agricultural production. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $15,390. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $49,626. Set against $15,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #7 for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $14,348. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $38,924. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.
Ellsworth Community College earned the #8 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,062 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $40,503. That is a strong return on a $17,062 median debt.
Cloud County Community College placed #9 among the best values for agricultural production. Set in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $12,839 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Cloud County Community College earn a median of $53,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,839 median debt.
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #10 spot for agricultural production value this year. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,524. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Mitchell Technical Institute generally make around $40,871. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College earned the #11 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the town of Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. Agricultural Production graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #12 spot for agricultural production value this year. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. Students from in state pay about $6,420 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $16,126. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $45,760. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Lakes Community College earned the #13 position for value in agricultural production this year. Located in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,392, with out-of-state students paying around $7,872. Students borrow a median of $20,876 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $46,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the rural area of Curtis, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,926. Students borrow a median of $11,629 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture earn a median of $24,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $62,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Maharishi University Of Management landed the #16 spot for agricultural production value this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,530. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Maharishi University Of Management generally make around $73,644. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University earned the #17 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $54,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kansas State University placed #18 among the best values for agricultural production. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University earned the #19 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
