2027 Best Value Agriculture Master’s Degree Schools
[Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/agriculture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value agriculture schools.
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2027 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture Schools
Our analysis ranked California State University Fresno the best value for a degree in agriculture in the United States. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the agriculture program here. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture will find it at North Carolina A And T State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $28,285. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $32,301. Set against $28,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University Commerce earned it the #4 place for agriculture. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $54,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $16,750. Agriculture graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $26,677 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Alcorn State University came in at #6 for value in agriculture this year. Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alcorn State. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,785. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Alcorn State University generally make around $37,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Alcorn State University admits about 45% of applicants.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in agriculture this year. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Magnolia. Students from in state pay about $9,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $20,385. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus generally make around $41,723. Set against $20,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University came in at #8 for value in agriculture this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $85,908. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the agriculture program here. Agriculture graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Agriculture graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $64,786 early in their careers. Set against $21,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #11 for value in agriculture this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $20,699 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $44,994. Set against $20,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for agriculture. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $22,386. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $50,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Illinois State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the agriculture program here. Agriculture graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $47,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University came in at #15 for value in agriculture this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,101, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $13,460 in student loans. Agriculture graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. Set against $13,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #16 for value in agriculture this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $57,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #17 spot for agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $51,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Other Agriculture Degree Levels
Explore the best-value agriculture schools at other degree levels:
View All Agriculture 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
