2027 Best Value General Agriculture Master’s Degree Schools
[General Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for general agriculture students.
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2027 Best Value General Agriculture Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general agriculture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Agriculture Schools
Leading the list is California State University Fresno, our #1 best value for general agriculture in the United States. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
A rank of #2 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the best values for general agriculture. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general 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.
A rank of #3 makes North Carolina A And T State University one of the best values for general agriculture. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $28,285 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $32,301 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,285 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University Commerce earned it the #4 place for general agriculture. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $54,807 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #5 makes Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University one of the best values for general agriculture. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $16,750. General Agriculture graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $26,677 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Alcorn State University earned the #6 position for value in general 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. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Alcorn State University generally make around $37,771. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,960, while out-of-state students pay about $15,690. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $20,385. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus generally make around $41,723. That is a strong return on a $20,385 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University earned the #8 position for value in general agriculture this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $21,903. Early-career general 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 came in at #9 for value in general agriculture this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the general agriculture program here. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $51,750. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #10 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete the general agriculture program here. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $64,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #11 for value in general agriculture this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $20,699. General Agriculture graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $44,994 early in their careers. Set against $20,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $22,337. General Agriculture graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for general agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $50,894 early in their careers. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Illinois State University earned the #14 position for value in general agriculture this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $47,295. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University placed #15 among the best values for general agriculture. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $13,460. General Agriculture graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,460 median debt. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #16 spot for general agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $22,843. General Agriculture graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $57,773 early in their careers. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #17 spot for general agriculture value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $23,393. General Agriculture graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $51,630 early in their careers. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Other General Agriculture Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Agriculture rankings across degree levels:
View All General 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.
