2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Texas
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 51 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 Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture & agriculture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools in Texas. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $15,044. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $37,896 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Texas College earned it the #2 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $6,150. Students borrow a median of $8,691 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Palo Alto College earned it the #4 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $9,430. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,694. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Lee College earned the #6 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
North Central Texas College came in at #7 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $15,965. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.
Northeast Texas Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Northeast Texas Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,980, with out-of-state students paying around $5,620. Students borrow a median of $15,089 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $37,839. That is a strong return on a $15,089 median debt.
Lone Star College System placed #9 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $38,152. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Weatherford College landed the #10 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $10,860. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,099. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Weatherford College earn a median of $48,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,099 median debt.
Clarendon College landed the #11 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the rural area of Clarendon, Clarendon College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,400. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $14,789 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $46,745. That is a strong return on a $14,789 median debt.
Texas A And M University Kingsville landed the #12 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,746 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $22,999 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $24,942. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #13 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $22,962. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $27,581. Set against $22,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
Angelo State University came in at #14 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Angelo State University is a large public school located in the city of San Angelo. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,183 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $28,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,183 median debt. Angelo State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #15 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Students borrow a median of $21,739 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $42,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,739 median debt. Stephen F Austin State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Prairie View A And M University came in at #16 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Prairie View A And M University is a large public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $28,500. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $38,063 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.
Navarro College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,578. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $13,781 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $43,216. That is a strong return on a $13,781 median debt.
Sam Houston State University placed #18 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,248 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $38,639 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,248 median debt. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #19 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $21,154. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $34,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,704 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $38,715 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,704 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Blinn College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Texas A And M University earned the #22 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $20,078. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $48,807. That is a strong return on a $20,078 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Tarleton State University landed the #23 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $21,578. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $35,159. That is a strong return on a $21,578 median debt. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #24 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $19,497 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $55,111. Set against $19,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Vet Tech Institute Of Houston ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Vet Tech Institute Of Houston is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $16,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,804. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $30,665. Set against $14,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vet Tech Institute Of Houston admits about 81% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for agriculture & agriculture operations this year:
More Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings
View All Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
