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2023 Best Value Colleges for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations in the Plains States Region

30 Ranked Colleges
7,009 Degrees Awarded
$12,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 49,899 people earned their degree in agriculture and agriculture operations, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, agriculture and agriculture operations graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,342 and had an average of $19,867 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 7,009 agriculture and agriculture operations graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,149 and $18,404 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 30 colleges that offered a degree in agriculture and agriculture operations. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality agriculture and agriculture operations programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the agriculture and agriculture operations program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations in the Plains States Region

1
Ridgewater College crest
Ridgewater College
Willmar, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ridgewater College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region. Ridgewater College is located in Willmar, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 109 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

Ridgewater College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,436 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students per year to attend Ridgewater College.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Ridgewater College

2
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region. This fairly large school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 389 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students list, South Dakota State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $18,578 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at South Dakota State University

3
BSC crest
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bismarck State College landed the #3 spot on the list. BSC is a public institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students list, BSC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BSC is $9,756 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Bismarck State College

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Curtis, Nebraska, and it awarded 68 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is $12,096 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

5
LATI crest
Lake Area Technical Institute
Watertown, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Area Technical Institute. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lake Area Technical Institute is located in Watertown, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 114 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

LATI also took the #11 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Area Technical Institute is $13,301 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at LATI

6
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a public institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $9,906 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Full Kirkwood Community College Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

7

With a ranking of #7, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to 240 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,998 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

8

North Dakota State College of Science did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Wahpeton, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State College of Science did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,084 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students per year to attend North Dakota State College of Science.

Full North Dakota State College of Science Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

9
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, Nebraska

Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Central Community College is a medium-sized school located in Grand Island, Nebraska that handed out 128 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,069 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend Central Community College.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Central Community College

10

Des Moines Area Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Ankeny, Iowa, and it awarded 110 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $9,557 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at DMACC

11

Northeast Iowa Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. NICC is a small school located in Calmar, Iowa that handed out 86 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students list, NICC has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeast Iowa Community College is $8,097 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students.

Full Northeast Iowa Community College Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

12
Mitchell Tech crest
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, South Dakota

With a ranking of #12, Mitchell Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Mitchell Tech is located in Mitchell, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mitchell Tech, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,813 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend Mitchell Tech.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Mitchell Technical College

13

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 971 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State University Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

14

Southeast Community College Area ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified ’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students list, Southeast Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,190 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend Southeast Community College.

Full Southeast Community College Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

15

University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified ’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

UMN Crookston also took the #13 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,593 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend UMN Crookston.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at UMN Crookston

16

With a ranking of #16, Northeast Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 88 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

Northeast did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeast Community College is $9,029 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Northeast

17
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Kansas State University is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 834 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,433 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at K -State

18

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNL is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 592 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,013 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend UNL.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

19

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 184 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,718 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend Missouri State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Missouri State

20
Chadron State College crest
Chadron State College
Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Chadron State College is a small school located in Chadron, Nebraska that handed out 30 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Chadron State College is $15,097 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Chadron State College

21

With a ranking of #21, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 131 diplomas to qualified ’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

Northwest also took the #21 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,925 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students per year to attend Northwest.

Full Northwest Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

22
DSU crest
Dickinson State University
Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Dickinson, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified ’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,673 for plains states region agriculture & agriculture operations students per year to attend DSU.

Full Dickinson State University Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

23
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truman State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,301 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students per year to attend Truman State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Truman State University Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Report

24
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Read full report on Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at Southeast Missouri State University

25
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #25, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Plains States Region list. UCM is a fairly large public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 33 ’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UCM is $14,058 for Plains States Region Agriculture & Agriculture Operations students.

Read more about Agriculture & Agriculture Operations at UCM

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