2026 Best Value Agronomy & Crop Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Agronomy & Crop Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/agronomy-and-crop-science/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 79 schools to find the best return on investment for agronomy & crop science students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Agronomy & Crop Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agronomy & crop science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agronomy & Crop Science Schools
For return on investment in agronomy & crop science, no school beat University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $67,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
New Mexico State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agronomy & crop science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $41,860. That is a strong return on a $19,026 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University Kingsville earned it the #3 place for agronomy & crop science. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kingsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Soon after graduation, agronomy & crop science degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $51,454. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for agronomy & crop science. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $21,792. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $54,601. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agronomy & crop science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Mayaguez, University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,274 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,200 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez earn a median of $30,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,200 median debt. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez admits about 56% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value agronomy & crop science schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agronomy & crop science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $45,411. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #7 for value in agronomy & crop science this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for agronomy & crop science. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $25,153. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $49,048. That is a strong return on a $25,153 median debt. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #9 spot for agronomy & crop science value this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $22,156 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $42,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #10 position for value in agronomy & crop science this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $47,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas came in at #11 for value in agronomy & crop science this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $52,555 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Kansas State University landed the #12 spot for agronomy & crop science value this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $21,905. Soon after graduation, agronomy & crop science degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $50,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #13 among the best values for agronomy & crop science. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $20,500. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $73,707 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #14 among the best values for agronomy & crop science. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $23,125. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $58,787 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value agronomy & crop science schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Oregon State University landed the #16 spot for agronomy & crop science value this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agronomy & crop science graduates is $25,096. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $38,397 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agronomy & crop science schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $21,654 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Early-career agronomy & crop science graduates make about $45,163. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Auburn University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value agronomy & crop science schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the agronomy & crop science program here. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $50,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Cornell University came in at #19 for value in agronomy & crop science this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates carry a median of $15,990 in student loans. Agronomy & Crop Science graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $32,236 early in their careers. Set against $15,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Other Agronomy & Crop Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Agronomy & Crop Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Agronomy & Crop Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 79 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.
