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2023 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
1,506 Degrees Awarded
$37,041 Avg Salary
Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate

With all of the options veterans have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations is the 21st most popular major in the country with 49,899 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,506 agriculture and agriculture operations graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,723 and $22,140 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in agriculture and agriculture operations. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality agriculture and agriculture operations programs as well as strong veteran support.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the agriculture and agriculture operations program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to 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.

Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree vets studying agriculture & agriculture operations.

Top 15 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Plains States Region

1
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 #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate. South Dakota State University is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

South Dakota State also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1.Among the 11,405 students enrolled at South Dakota State, 369 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 158 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,731. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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…

2
LATI crest
Lake Area Technical Institute
Watertown, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Area Technical Institute. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate. Lake Area Technical Institute is a small school located in Watertown, South Dakota that handed out 112 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

LATI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Of the 2,217 students enrolled at LATI, 136 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 40 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,486. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full LATI Veteran Student Life Report

3
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kirkwood Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this fairly large public school awarded 88 degrees to qualified associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree vets studying agriculture & agriculture operations list, Kirkwood Community College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 12,277 students enrolled at Kirkwood Community College, 264 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 108 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,554. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Kirkwood Community College]](/colleges/kirkwood-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

4
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 #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate. Ridgewater College is located in Willmar, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to qualified students.

Ridgewater College also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3.Our most recent data shows that 38 of the 3,176 students enrolled at Ridgewater College were GI Bill® students, of which 25 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,506. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Ridgewater College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

5
BSC crest
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bismarck State College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate list. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 34 degrees to qualified associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BSC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 194 of the 3,716 students enrolled at BSC were GI Bill® students, of which 116 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,217. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Bismarck State College Veteran Student Life Report

6

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

DMACC also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7.Among the 23,051 students enrolled at DMACC, 500 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 221 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,709. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at DMACC]](/colleges/des-moines-area-community-college/student-life/veterans/)

7
Southeast Tech crest
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Southeast Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking, coming in at #7. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

Southeast Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 193 of the 2,330 students enrolled at Southeast Technical College were GI Bill® students, of which 86 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,618. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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

Full Southeast Technical College Veteran Student Life Report

8
Mitchell Tech crest
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, South Dakota

Mitchell Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate list. This small school is located in Mitchell, South Dakota, and it awarded 77 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

Mitchell Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, Mitchell Tech supports 1,162 students, and 67 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 24 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,895. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Mitchell Tech offers credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Mitchell Tech]](/colleges/mitchell-technical-institute/student-life/veterans/)

9

With a ranking of #9, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate list. Located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State College of Science also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8.Among the 2,829 students enrolled at North Dakota State College of Science, 48 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 15 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,864. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. North Dakota State College of Science offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

10
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, Nebraska

Central Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate list. Located in Grand Island, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations students in 2020-2021.

Central Community College also made our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11.According to our most recent data, Central Community College supports 5,974 students, and 14 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 7 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,530. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

11

Southeast Community College Area ranked #11 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate list. Southeast Community College is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree vets studying agriculture & agriculture operations list, Southeast Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.According to our most recent data, Southeast Community College supports 9,328 students, and 17 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 7 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,488. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Southeast Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Southeast Community College Area Veteran Student Life Report

12

Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 79 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

NICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 19 of the 4,162 students enrolled at NICC were GI Bill® students, of which 7 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,586. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full NICC Veteran Student Life Report

13

Northeast Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Nebraska. It awarded 88 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

Northeast did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.Of the 5,105 students enrolled at Northeast Community College, 62 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 23 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,545. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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

Full Northeast Community College Veteran Student Life Report

14
DSU crest
Dickinson State University
Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking. DSU is a public institution located in Dickinson, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DSU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 50 of the 1,441 students enrolled at Dickinson State University were GI Bill® students, of which 19 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,416. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Dickinson State University]](/colleges/dickinson-state-university/student-life/veterans/)

15

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations for an Associate ranking, coming in at #15. Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a small school located in Curtis, Nebraska that handed out 57 associates’s agriculture and agriculture operations degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree vets studying agriculture & agriculture operations list, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 282 students enrolled at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, 6 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,621. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%.

Full Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Veteran Student Life Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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