Compare 75 Agricultural Economics. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $63,629. Top programs: $145,218+.
With top graduates earning $145K, Agricultural Economics stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $81K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 75 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Cornell University leads with Agricultural Economics graduates earning $145K—well above the $64K average across all 75 programs. But the more revealing story is what follows: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ($88K) and Ohio State ($88K), both public universities with acceptance rates above 30%, come in a close second and third, demonstrating that accessible programs can deliver outcomes that rival the most selective schools.
Debt burden separates good programs from genuinely great ones. Cornell graduates borrow just $14K in student loans and face a 1.6% payment burden—firmly in the 'Excellent' tier, meaning loan payments are trivial relative to post-grad income. For families factoring in parent loans, Cornell still leads at a 6.5% combined burden, also rated 'Excellent'—a rare case where the top-earning program is also the most financially manageable. Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →: https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $145,218 | 190 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Excellent |
| #2 | $88,396 | 120 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $88,205 | 72 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #4 | $86,646 | 262 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $82,831 | 44 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $81,655 | 30 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | |
| #7 | University Of IdahoPublic | $80,690 | 17 | $21,982 | Excellent | $21,162 | Good |
| #8 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $79,621 | 24 | $22,500 | Excellent | $25,000 | Manageable |
| #9 | $78,998 | 38 | $22,142 | Excellent | $25,567 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $78,577 | 39 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $77,479 | 509 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $77,296 | 44 | $23,199 | Excellent | $14,621 | Good | |
| #13 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $75,921 | 78 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #14 | University Of DelawarePublic | $74,606 | 13 | $24,572 | Excellent | $43,000 | Challenging |
| #15 | $73,471 | 71 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $72,311 | 49 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Manageable |
| #17 | $71,910 | 25 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Manageable | |
| #18 | University Of FloridaPublic | $70,862 | 100 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Good |
| #19 | University Of Mount OlivePrivate | $70,219 | 22 | $27,209 | Excellent | $15,000 | Manageable |
| #20 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $69,689 | 108 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Manageable |
| #21 | $69,498 | 58 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $69,108 | 55 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $68,671 | 113 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Manageable | |
| #24 | Auburn UniversityPublic | $68,658 | 41 | $21,000 | Excellent | $43,605 | Challenging |
| #25 | $67,731 | 109 | $14,505 | Excellent | $12,050 | Good |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
