2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agriculture & agriculture operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
For return on investment in agriculture & agriculture operations, no school beat Mt San Antonio College this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $9,384. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $40,929. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture & agriculture operations will find it at Moorpark College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes San Diego Mesa College one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $6,999. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $10,288. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Reedley College one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College placed #6 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Shasta College landed the #8 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $12,275. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College placed #9 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Merced College earned the #10 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,024 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Merced College earn a median of $45,032 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College landed the #11 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $13,302. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Butte College earn a median of $67,048 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,302 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #12 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #13 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,242, with out-of-state students paying around $20,842. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,813. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $43,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Victor Valley College placed #14 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $37,755. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellingham Technical College came in at #15 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
California State University Fresno came in at #16 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. 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, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,001 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $48,668. Set against $15,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Woodland Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Woodland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,124, compared with $7,656 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,042.
Sierra College came in at #18 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,997 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $19,695. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College earned the #21 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College earned the #22 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Bakersfield College earned the #23 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,430 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $9,419. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $86,312. That is a strong return on a $9,419 median debt.
Yuba College placed #24 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $8,729. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $89,816 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $39,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s agriculture & agriculture operations value ranking:
Narrow Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 164 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.
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture & agriculture operations education at a price that pays off.
