2027 Best Value Agricultural Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Agricultural Engineering](/majors/engineering/agricultural-engineering-ae/agricultural-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Agricultural Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best value for a degree in agricultural engineering in the United States. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete the agricultural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $62,032. That is a strong return on a $21,350 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $20,000. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $72,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the best values for agricultural engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,420 in student loans. Agricultural Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $72,713 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for agricultural engineering. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $22,500. Agricultural Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $69,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values for agricultural engineering. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the agricultural engineering program here. Agricultural Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $67,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #6 spot for agricultural engineering value this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $61,145. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for agricultural engineering value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,872 in student loans. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $62,981. Set against $24,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $23,500. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $67,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $65,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Iowa State University landed the #10 spot for agricultural engineering value this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, agricultural engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $72,376. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky placed #11 among the best values for agricultural engineering. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $19,500. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $51,864. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Kansas State University earned the #12 position for value in agricultural engineering this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,873 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural engineering degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $64,644. Set against $22,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Oregon State University placed #13 among the best values for agricultural engineering. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $54,095. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Michigan State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $28,000. Agricultural Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $65,396 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #15 for value in agricultural engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $18,000. Agricultural Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $74,655 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
South Dakota State University placed #16 among the best values for agricultural engineering. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the agricultural engineering program here. Early-career agricultural engineering graduates make about $51,260. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Clemson University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $23,783. Agricultural Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #18 among the best values for agricultural engineering. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $27,000. Agricultural Engineering graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $64,486 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Agricultural Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural engineering degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $75,434. Set against $26,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value agricultural engineering schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for agricultural engineering graduates is $27,000. Agricultural Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $62,382 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Other Agricultural Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Agricultural Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Agricultural Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 20 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.
