2027 Best Value Dairy Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Dairy Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/dairy-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dairy science students.
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2027 Best Value Dairy Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dairy science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dairy Science Schools
Leading the list is Northcentral Technical College, our #1 best value for dairy science in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value dairy science schools. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,183 to complete the dairy science program here. Dairy Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $37,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dairy science will find it at University Of Wisconsin Platteville, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Students borrow a median of $20,875 to complete the dairy science program here. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $44,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value dairy science schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $26,000. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $44,354. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earned it the #5 place for dairy science. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute generally make around $39,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan State University came in at #6 for value in dairy science this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $26,000. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $41,292. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. 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. 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.