2027 Best Value Dairy Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Dairy Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/dairy-science/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dairy science students.
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2027 Best Value Dairy Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dairy science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dairy Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 best value for dairy science in the United States. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $44,354. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in dairy science will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #2. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $39,567. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes South Dakota State University one of the best values for dairy science. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $23,162. Dairy Science graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $44,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value dairy science schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $22,631 in student loans. Dairy Science graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $28,729 early in their careers. Set against $22,631 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Other Dairy Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Dairy Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Dairy Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
