2027 Best Value General Agriculture Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general agriculture students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Agriculture Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general agriculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Agriculture Schools
Our analysis ranked Northeast Community College the best value for a degree in general agriculture in the The Plains States Region. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $11,937 to complete the general agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $40,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general agriculture will find it at Ozarks Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,644. Set against $15,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ellsworth Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general agriculture, landing the #3 spot this year. Ellsworth Community College is a small public school located in the town of Iowa Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,062 to complete the general agriculture program here. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $40,503. That is a strong return on a $17,062 median debt.
Fort Hays State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general agriculture, landing the #4 spot this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,741. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $20,340. General Agriculture graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $48,048 early in their careers. Set against $20,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general agriculture will find it at Truman State University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $36,853 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Dickinson State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Located in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,118. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $27,266 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of $42,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dickinson State University admits about 37% of applicants.
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, while out-of-state students pay about $7,650. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $12,271. General Agriculture graduates of Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of $54,373 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butler Community College earned the #8 position for value in general agriculture this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,541 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $16,670. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #9 spot for general agriculture value this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the general agriculture program here. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $38,678. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #10 position for value in general agriculture this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the general agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $47,282. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #11 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $35,737 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,625 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jefferson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, compared with $17,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $32,831. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $37,449. Set against $32,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Dakota State University landed the #13 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $49,781. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #14 spot for general agriculture value this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $21,818. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $42,145. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow General Agriculture Schools by State
More General Agriculture Rankings
View All General Agriculture Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
