Compare 13 Agricultural Economics. programs in the West. Average earnings: $55,569.
The highest-earning Agricultural Economics program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $43K earnings gap across 13 programs in the West, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Graduates earn between $35,060 and $78,364 depending on program choice.
At the top, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo produces Agricultural Economics graduates earning $78,364—well above the $55,569 regional average. Oregon State follows at $63,336, while University of Arizona hits $62,478. These outcomes reflect program strength, not overall school rankings.
Highest program earnings: $78,364
Strong outcomes ($63,336) with 79% acceptance
4.5% payment burden | Excellent
8.1% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $78,364 | 162 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $63,336 | 29 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Challenging |
| #3 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $62,478 | 41 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Challenging |
| #4 | $62,027 | 115 | $14,505 | Excellent | $12,050 | Good | |
| #5 | $61,609 | 71 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $60,874 | 30 | $13,969 | Excellent | $7,556 | Good | |
| #7 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $56,338 | 33 | $14,340 | Excellent | $13,923 | Manageable |
| #8 | $52,804 | 72 | $20,000 | Good | $36,000 | High | |
| #9 | University Of WyomingPublic | $52,685 | 52 | $18,000 | Good | $16,000 | Manageable |
| #10 | University Of IdahoPublic | $50,523 | 25 | $21,982 | Good | $21,162 | Challenging |
| #11 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $48,285 | 31 | $22,500 | Good | $25,000 | High |
| #12 | $44,433 | 29 | $17,095 | Good | $10,166 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $35,060 | 27 | $16,000 | Manageable | $15,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
