Best Agriculture Colleges in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Agriculture Colleges in the United States
This page ranks the 36 Agriculture programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Agriculture graduates four years after completing. Across the 25 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $66,368 to $21,781, with a median of $58,333.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads the list and ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Public institutions dominate the list, accounting for 81% of the programs. University of Wisconsin-Madison reports the highest six-year completion rate at 90%, while College of the Ozarks posts the lowest average net price at $6,100.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Agriculture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | No published median | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a six-year completion rate of 85%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (262 graduates), Animal Sciences (131 graduates), Food Science and Technology (77 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($86,646), Food Science and Technology ($66,226), Plant Sciences ($63,279) | |||||
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | No published median | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| With an admission rate of 45%, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates 90% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Public Services (61 graduates), Animal Sciences (46 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($81,655), Agricultural Public Services ($71,726), Animal Sciences ($57,605) | |||||
| 3 | Morningside University · Sioux City, IA | $66,368 | $31,320 | $33,738 | 71.0% |
| Morningside University, a private nonprofit university in Sioux City, reports median earnings of $66,368 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural and Food Products Processing (9 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | No published median | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus admits 95% of applicants and carries an average net price of $15,543. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (51 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (44 graduates), Agricultural Production Operations (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Production Operations ($83,779), Agricultural Business and Management ($77,296), Agricultural Mechanization ($58,690) | |||||
| 5 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $63,600 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $63,600 four years after completing, and the school's six-year completion rate stands at 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agriculture, General ($63,600) | |||||
| 6 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | No published median | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus, in Columbus, posts an average net price of $4,885 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (148 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (72 graduates), Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other (72 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other ($88,205), Food Science and Technology ($70,537), Agricultural Business and Management ($66,603) | |||||
| 7 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $62,081 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $62,081 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 50%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (146 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (113 graduates), Food Science and Technology (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Mechanization ($73,393), Agricultural Business and Management ($65,900), Animal Sciences ($54,089) | |||||
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI | $62,051 | $14,559 | $8,833 | 91.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 51%, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point reports median earnings of $62,051 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Soil Sciences (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Soil Sciences ($62,051) | |||||
| 9 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $61,708 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| South Dakota State University admits 98% of applicants and reports median earnings of $61,708 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (117 graduates), Agriculture, General (45 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($78,494), Agricultural Mechanization ($67,746), Agricultural Business and Management ($67,425) | |||||
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE | $61,438 | $16,242 | $13,066 | 89.5% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney reports an average net price of $16,242 and a six-year completion rate of 58%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($61,438) | |||||
| 11 | Southeast Missouri State University · Cape Girardeau, MO | $61,034 | $15,882 | $12,704 | 73.5% |
| Graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $61,034 four years after completing, and the school admits 74% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (63 graduates), Plant Sciences (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($63,078) | |||||
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville · Platteville, WI | $61,007 | $16,032 | $9,009 | 89.4% |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville reports median earnings of $61,007 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $16,032. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (69 graduates), Animal Sciences (47 graduates), Plant Sciences (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($61,085), Animal Sciences ($53,530) | |||||
| 13 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $60,287 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University reports median earnings of $60,287 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate reaches 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (241 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (166 graduates), Plant Sciences (89 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Mechanization ($78,890), Agricultural Business and Management ($67,529), Food Science and Technology ($65,943) | |||||
| 14 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $60,183 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| With an admission rate of 82%, Kansas State University admits a large share of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (238 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (85 graduates), Plant Sciences (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural and Food Products Processing ($91,040), Food Science and Technology ($78,367), Agricultural Business and Management ($66,387) | |||||
| 15 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | No published median | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia carries an average net price of $20,268 and graduates 75% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (81 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (44 graduates), Plant Sciences (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($82,831), Agricultural Mechanization ($75,958), Plant Sciences ($62,957) | |||||
| 16 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $58,928 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University posts median earnings of $58,928 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $7,068 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (126 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (55 graduates), Food Science and Technology (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Food Science and Technology ($70,380), Agricultural Business and Management ($69,108), Soil Sciences ($67,666) | |||||
| 17 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $58,441 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates 85% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $58,441 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (104 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (58 graduates), Plant Sciences (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Food Science and Technology ($70,705), Agricultural Business and Management ($69,498), Plant Sciences ($52,707) | |||||
| 18 | Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL | $58,333 | $12,937 | $6,941 | 71.2% |
| Western Illinois University ranks 561st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $12,937. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agriculture, General ($58,333) | |||||
| 19 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | No published median | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln admits 87% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 67%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (99 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (92 graduates), Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other (81 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Mechanization ($74,003), Agricultural Business and Management ($65,312), Plant Sciences ($61,946) | |||||
| 20 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $56,895 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports median earnings of $56,895 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 62%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (27 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (25 graduates), Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Soil Sciences ($74,026), Agricultural Business and Management ($71,910), Agriculture, General ($57,596) | |||||
| 21 | Northwest Missouri State University · Maryville, MO | No published median | $16,244 | $13,176 | 86.1% |
| Northwest Missouri State University carries an average net price of $16,244 and graduates 54% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (61 graduates), Agriculture, General (29 graduates), Plant Sciences (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($58,035), Agriculture, General ($49,328) | |||||
| 22 | Dordt University · Sioux Center, IA | No published median | $25,807 | $22,597 | 68.5% |
| A private nonprofit university in Sioux Center, Dordt University admits 68% of applicants and graduates 70% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (10 graduates), Animal Sciences (6 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Chadron State College · Chadron, NE | $53,484 | $12,549 | $10,047 | Not reported |
| Chadron State College reports median earnings of $53,484 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, with a six-year completion rate of 50%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Plant Sciences (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($53,484) | |||||
| 24 | Dickinson State University · Dickinson, ND | $52,529 | $14,092 | $10,479 | 37.0% |
| Dickinson State University admits 37% of applicants, and its six-year completion rate is 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (18 graduates) | |||||
| 25 | Wilmington College · Wilmington, OH | $52,319 | $24,153 | $19,820 | 92.4% |
| Wilmington College, a private nonprofit university in Wilmington, reports $52,319 in median earnings of Agriculture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $24,153. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($52,319) | |||||
| 26 | Truman State University · Kirksville, MO | $52,303 | $12,780 | $6,046 | 83.8% |
| Truman State University admits 84% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 69%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agriculture, General ($52,303) | |||||
| 27 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls · River Falls, WI | No published median | $14,054 | $8,472 | 81.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls ranks 638th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $8,472 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (184 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (48 graduates), Plant Sciences (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($59,732), Agricultural Business and Management ($57,307), Animal Sciences ($48,680) | |||||
| 28 | Fort Hays State University · Hays, KS | No published median | $12,569 | $7,661 | 90.3% |
| Fort Hays State University graduates 48% of its students within six years and carries an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (55 graduates), Agriculture, General (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($58,520) | |||||
| 29 | University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO | $47,248 | $14,462 | $10,965 | 63.8% |
| University of Central Missouri reports $47,248 in median earnings of Agriculture graduates four years after completing alongside a six-year completion rate of 54%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($47,248) | |||||
| 30 | The University of Findlay · Findlay, OH | $46,744 | $27,221 | $22,052 | 83.4% |
| The University of Findlay ranks 30th on this list and posts an average net price of $22,052 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs (50 graduates), Animal Sciences (32 graduates), Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Animal Sciences ($46,977), Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs ($46,798), Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services ($46,301) | |||||
| 31 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $45,892 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
| Missouri State University-Springfield admits 91% of applicants and reports $45,892 in median earnings of Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (59 graduates), Plant Sciences (45 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (35 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($50,995), Plant Sciences ($47,267), Agriculture, General ($46,412) | |||||
| 32 | College of the Ozarks · Point Lookout, MO | $44,819 | $6,100 | $6,381 | 12.0% |
| College of the Ozarks holds the lowest admission rate on the page at 12% and lists an average net price of $6,100. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (9 graduates), Plant Sciences (8 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($49,360) | |||||
| 33 | University of Minnesota-Crookston · Crookston, MN | No published median | $12,212 | $5,758 | 87.9% |
| University of Minnesota-Crookston ranks 769th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $5,758 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (14 graduates), Plant Sciences (13 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($59,240) | |||||
| 34 | Southwest Minnesota State University · Marshall, MN | $42,123 | $15,291 | $10,559 | 62.2% |
| Southwest Minnesota State University reports $42,123 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates two years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 45%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (9 graduates), Plant Sciences (8 graduates) | |||||
| 35 | William Woods University · Fulton, MO | $33,757 | $26,569 | $24,014 | 71.0% |
| William Woods University ranks 35th on this list and posts an average net price of $24,014 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services ($33,757) | |||||
| 36 | Lake Erie College · Painesville, OH | $21,781 | $20,961 | $20,195 | 70.4% |
| Lake Erie College reports $21,781 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates two years after completing and an admission rate of 70%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (8 graduates), Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (5 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Agriculture graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Agriculture earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 36 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 25 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $44,587, from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Job market context in the Midwest
Graduates of Agriculture programs in the Midwest enter occupations such as Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals, First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, and Agricultural Technicians. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $53,193, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $43,581. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 1.9% higher, with about 4,356 openings a year for every hundred graduates, suggesting more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the occupation-wide wages described here.
Related rankings
- Best Agriculture Colleges in the United States
- Best Colleges in the Midwest
- Best Agriculture Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Agriculture Colleges in the South
- Best Agriculture Colleges in the West
- Agriculture Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility