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