Best Agriculture Colleges in the United States (2026)
Updated
This page ranks 135 schools in the United States for Agriculture by median earnings of Agriculture graduates four years after completing. Cornell University leads the list, followed by California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and Brigham Young University.
Across the 94 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $73,630 to $18,315, with a median of $51,699. For 11 of the 135 listed schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 85% of the list, with 115 public and 20 private nonprofit schools represented. Cornell University posts the highest six-year completion rate at 95%, while California State University-Los Angeles ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Agriculture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | No published median | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University ranks 1st on this list and posts a 95% six-year completion rate alongside a 9% admission rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (190 graduates), Animal Sciences (75 graduates), Agriculture, General (61 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($145,218), Food Science and Technology ($84,147), Agriculture, General ($67,954) | |||||
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $73,630 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reports $73,630 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (165 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (120 graduates), Food Science and Technology (101 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($88,396), Agriculture, General ($84,412), Plant Sciences ($82,487) | |||||
| 3 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | No published median | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Provo, Brigham Young University carries an average net price of $15,564. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Soil Sciences (24 graduates), Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (22 graduates), Food Science and Technology (11 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | No published median | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42% of applicants and graduates 85% of its students within six years, ranking 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | No published median | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| An average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000 accompanies a 90% six-year completion rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $66,663 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station reports $66,663 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $21,315. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (509 graduates), Animal Sciences (375 graduates), Agricultural Public Services (82 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($77,479), Agriculture, General ($59,213), Animal Sciences ($57,324) | |||||
| 7 | Morningside University · Sioux City, IA | $66,368 | $31,320 | $33,738 | 71.0% |
| Morningside University reports $66,368 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, alongside a 50% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural and Food Products Processing (9 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | No published median | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park ranks 71st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 89% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (68 graduates), Food Science and Technology (45 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($78,577), Food Science and Technology ($73,677), Animal Sciences ($56,248) | |||||
| 9 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $65,006 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno reports $65,006 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing and carries an average net price of $7,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (109 graduates), Animal Sciences (88 graduates), Food Science and Technology (63 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Plant Sciences ($77,034), Agricultural Business and Management ($67,731), Food Science and Technology ($64,225) | |||||
| 10 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $64,669 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State University-Stanislaus reports $64,669 in median earnings for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (29 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | No published median | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| University of Georgia shows a 90% six-year completion rate and an average net price of $8,085 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (88 graduates), Agricultural Business and Management (78 graduates), Plant Sciences (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agricultural Business and Management ($75,921), Animal Sciences ($61,176) | |||||
| 12 | University of Mount Olive · Mount Olive, NC | No published median | $18,853 | $18,227 | 75.8% |
| Admitting 76% of applicants, University of Mount Olive ranks 899th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural Business and Management (22 graduates), Agricultural Production Operations (6 graduates), Animal Sciences (5 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | No published median | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 13th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 64% alongside 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) | |||||
| 14 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $63,600 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University posts median earnings of $63,600 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, above the page median of $51,699. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Agriculture, General ($63,600) | |||||
| 15 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | No published median | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| A public university in Columbus, Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants and has 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) | |||||
| 16 | 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 a six-year completion rate of 83%. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI | $62,051 | $14,559 | $8,833 | 91.8% |
| With an admission rate of 92%, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ranks 519th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Soil Sciences (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Soil Sciences ($62,051) | |||||
| 18 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $61,708 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| South Dakota State University reports median earnings of $61,708 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $19,841. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 19 | University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE | $61,438 | $16,242 | $13,066 | 89.5% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney ranks 19th on this list and reports an average net price of $13,066 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 20 | Southeast Missouri State University · Cape Girardeau, MO | $61,034 | $15,882 | $12,704 | 73.5% |
| Southeast Missouri State University posts median earnings of $61,034 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, above the page median of $51,699. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville · Platteville, WI | $61,007 | $16,032 | $9,009 | 89.4% |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville admits 89% of applicants and reports a six-year completion rate of 56%. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 22 | 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 an average net price of $18,589. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 23 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $60,183 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| Kansas State University ranks 342nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports 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) | |||||
| 24 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | No published median | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 24th on this list and reports an average net price of $16,343 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (74 graduates), Food Science and Technology (32 graduates), Agriculture, General (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Animal Sciences ($54,509) | |||||
| 25 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | No published median | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 25th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
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) | |||||
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 United States appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing their program. For 11 of the 135 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 94 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $55,315, with Cornell University at the top and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo reporting $73,630 in second place.
Job market context in the United States
Graduates of Agriculture programs in the United States enter occupations such as Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals, First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers, and Food Science Technicians. The median annual wage across those occupations is $54,848, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $44,680. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.4% higher, with about 6,133 openings a year for every hundred graduates, 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 broader occupational wages reported here.
Related rankings
- Agriculture Colleges for Social Mobility