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2026 Best Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in the Great Lakes Region

22 Colleges in the United States
7,471 Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Degrees Awarded
$39,999 Avg Early-Career Salary

Agriculture & Agriculture Operations programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 156 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for agriculture & agriculture operations students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall agriculture & agriculture operations education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Agriculture & Agriculture Operations

1
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

No school ranked higher than Purdue University Main Campus this year for agriculture & agriculture operations. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 719 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $62,332. Typical student debt for the program is $17,627. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Purdue University Main Campus

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 798 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $52,199. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $18,509 in student loans. Read more about the agriculture & agriculture operations program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3

Students looking for a strong agriculture & agriculture operations program will find one at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 113 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Illinois State University earn around $47,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Illinois State University

4

Students looking for a strong agriculture & agriculture operations program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 35 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Illinois Institute Of Technology

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for agriculture & agriculture operations. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 391 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the agriculture & agriculture operations program make about $47,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,550. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from University Of Wisconsin Madison

6

Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #6 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 544 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $41,889. Typical student debt for the program is $14,303. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Ohio State University Main Campus

7

Western Illinois University came in at #7 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $48,509 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,969 to complete this degree. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Western Illinois University

8

University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #8 among the best agriculture & agriculture operations schools. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 43 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from University Of Wisconsin Stout

9

Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #9 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. There were roughly 70 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $45,531 in the first couple years of their career. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Chippewa Valley Technical College

10
Fox College Inc crest
Fox College Inc
Tinley Park, IL

Fox College Inc placed #10 among the best agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Tinley Park, Fox College Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Fox College Inc awarded about 79 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Fox College Inc earn around $36,853 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,722 to complete this degree. See the full agriculture & agriculture operations program report for Fox College Inc

11

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #11 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. About 104 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,319. See the full agriculture & agriculture operations program report for Fox Valley Technical College

12

Macomb Community College came in at #12 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Warren. Macomb Community College awarded about 37 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,126. Macomb Community College graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Macomb Community College

13

Lakeshore Technical College landed the #13 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 30 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Lakeshore Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the agriculture & agriculture operations program make about $41,252 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Lakeshore Technical College

14
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #14 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 547 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $45,221. Students borrow a median of $18,685 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Michigan State University

15

Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #15 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College awarded about 44 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn around $47,975 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete this degree. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Cincinnati State Technical And Community College

16

Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute placed #16 among the best agriculture & agriculture operations schools. This small public university is located in the town of Wooster. There were roughly 120 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earn around $35,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,954 to complete this degree. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute

17

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #17 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 24 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

18
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN

Vincennes University came in at #18 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vincennes University awarded about 33 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their agriculture & agriculture operations degree from Vincennes University earn around $45,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,506. See the full agriculture & agriculture operations program report for Vincennes University

19

Joliet Junior College came in at #19 for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 133 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Joliet Junior College

20

University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #20 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Platteville awarded about 83 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $48,840. Students borrow a median of $18,692 to complete this degree. See the full agriculture & agriculture operations program report for University Of Wisconsin Platteville

21

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #21 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 48 agriculture & agriculture operations students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the agriculture & agriculture operations program make about $35,981 in their early career. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Read more about the agriculture & agriculture operations program at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

22
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College earned the #22 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Jacksonville. Illinois College graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois College awarded about 18 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the agriculture & agriculture operations program make about $41,184 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,922. Read more about the agriculture & agriculture operations program at Illinois College

23

Western Technical College La Cross earned the #23 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $43,479. Typical student debt for the program is $13,669. More information about a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations from Western Technical College La Cross

24
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #24 among the best agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Harper College awarded about 12 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the agriculture & agriculture operations program make about $44,523 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963. Get the full agriculture & agriculture operations details for Harper College

25

University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #25 position for agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin River Falls awarded about 230 agriculture & agriculture operations degrees in the most recent data year. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $41,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,365 to complete this degree. See the full agriculture & agriculture operations program report for University Of Wisconsin River Falls

Rest of the Top 50 Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s agriculture & agriculture operations ranking:

26
Parkland College crest
Parkland College
Champaign, IL
27
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
35
36
37
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
38
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 156 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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