2027 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/agriculture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value agriculture schools.
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2027 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agriculture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agriculture Schools
Kaskaskia College tops our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $7,875. Agriculture graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the agriculture program here. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $39,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Illinois University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $18,969. Agriculture graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $48,509 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the agriculture program here. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $39,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for agriculture. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $18,750. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $47,295. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
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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 · 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.
