2027 Best Agriculture Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Agriculture degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for agriculture students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Agriculture in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall agriculture education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Agriculture
Our analysis ranked Purdue University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in agriculture. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 agriculture students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
More information about a degree in agriculture from Purdue University Main Campus
Illinois State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best agriculture schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 117 agriculture degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their agriculture degree from Illinois State University earn around $47,295 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
Read more about the agriculture program at Illinois State University
Western Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in agriculture, ranking #3. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 agriculture students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture degree from Western Illinois University earn around $48,509 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,969.
Read more about the agriculture program at Western Illinois University
Students looking for a strong agriculture program will find one at Ivy Tech Community College, which ranked #4. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. There were roughly 68 agriculture students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture degree from Ivy Tech Community College earn around $39,261 in the first couple years of their career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in agriculture from Ivy Tech Community College
Kaskaskia College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in agriculture, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. About 46 agriculture degrees were awarded at Kaskaskia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their agriculture degree from Kaskaskia College earn around $45,658 in the first couple years of their career. Kaskaskia College graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans.
Get the full agriculture details for Kaskaskia College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #6 among the best agriculture schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 11 agriculture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $39,700 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full agriculture details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.
- 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.