by our College Data Analytics Team
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture & agriculture operations education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for agriculture & agriculture operations students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agriculture & agriculture operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Great Falls College Montana State University, our #1 best value for agriculture & agriculture operations in Montana. Great Falls College Montana State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Great Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $4,028, compared with $12,911 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $38,034 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture & agriculture operations will find it at The University Of Montana Western, which ranked #2. The University Of Montana Western is a small public school located in the town of Dillon. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, while out-of-state students pay about $20,130. Students borrow a median of $22,484 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $36,924. Set against $22,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture & agriculture operations will find it at Montana State University, which ranked #3. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $21,639 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $35,309. Set against $21,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.