2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Kentucky
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture & agriculture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
Leading the list is Berea College, our #1 best value for agriculture & agriculture operations in Kentucky. Set in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,658 in tuition and fees. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $25,912. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Henderson Community College earned it the #2 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Henderson Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Henderson. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $13,528. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Henderson Community College earn a median of $40,259 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,528 median debt.
Owensboro Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Owensboro. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Owensboro Community And Technical College generally make around $30,476. That is a strong return on a $9,098 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture & agriculture operations will find it at Bluegrass Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $44,431. That is a strong return on a $13,366 median debt.
Murray State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $23,100. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $51,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky State University landed the #6 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frankfort. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, with out-of-state students paying around $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Set against $29,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #7 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $40,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Morehead State University landed the #8 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $37,794. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $23,656 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $38,804. Set against $23,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky earned the #10 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,156 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $36,574 early in their careers. Set against $22,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Asbury University landed the #11 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the town of Wilmore, Asbury University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,640. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Asbury University earn a median of $50,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt. Asbury University admits about 63% of applicants.
Medquest College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Louisville, Medquest College is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,443 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Medquest College generally make around $30,209.
Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger placed #13 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Erlanger. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $5,642. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger generally make around $26,571. That is a strong return on a $5,642 median debt.
Midway College came in at #14 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Midway College generally make around $33,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Medical Career And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Medical Career And Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Richmond. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $10,394. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Medical Career And Technical College earn a median of $23,103 early in their careers.
Kentucky Horseshoeing School landed the #16 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Kentucky Horseshoeing School is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $8,768. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Kentucky Horseshoeing School generally make around $14,821.
More Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
