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 reported completion median, 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 the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Agriculture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $101,961 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University ranks 1st on this list and posts a 95% six-year completion rate, the highest on the page. | |||||
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 median earnings of $73,630 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 31%. | |||||
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 | $72,042 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
| With an admission rate of 68%, Brigham Young University ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
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 | $69,718 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports an average net price of $14,355 and 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) | |||||
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $68,858 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| Ranking 5th on this list, University of Wisconsin-Madison shows an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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 median earnings of $66,663 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, alongside a 57% admission rate. | |||||
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% |
| A private nonprofit university in Sioux City, Morningside University ranks 1014th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agricultural and Food Products Processing (9 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $65,026 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| University of Maryland-College Park admits 45% of applicants 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 median earnings of $65,006 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, with 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% |
| Ranking 10th on this list, California State University-Stanislaus shows an average net price of $3,938 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Agriculture, General (29 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $64,130 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| University of Georgia ranks 95th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 90% of its students within six years. | |||||
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 | $64,116 | $18,853 | $18,227 | 75.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Mount Olive, University of Mount Olive reports an average net price of $18,853 and a six-year completion rate of 52%. | |||||
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 | $63,935 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 13th on this list and posts 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 reports median earnings of $63,600 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $11,568 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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 | $62,395 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| A public university in Columbus, Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 61% of applicants. | |||||
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 graduates 83% of its students within six years, and its Agriculture graduates earn a median of $62,081 four years after completing. | |||||
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 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) | |||||
| 18 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $61,708 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| South Dakota State University ranks 655th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Agriculture graduates earn a median of $61,708 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) | |||||
| 19 | University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE | $61,438 | $16,242 | $13,066 | 89.5% |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney posts a six-year completion rate of 58% and 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 reports median earnings of $61,034 for its Agriculture graduates four years after completing, and 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) | |||||
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville · Platteville, WI | $61,007 | $16,032 | $9,009 | 89.4% |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville ranks 412th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Agriculture graduates earn a median of $61,007 four years after completing. | |||||
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 graduates 75% of its students within six years, and its Agriculture graduates earn a median of $60,287 four years after completing. | |||||
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 reports an average net price of $13,178 for families earning under $30,000, and its Agriculture graduates earn a median of $60,183 four years after completing. | |||||
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 | $59,842 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts a six-year completion rate of 84%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Animal Sciences (74 graduates), Food Science and Technology (32 graduates), Agriculture, General (20 graduates) | |||||
| 25 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $59,622 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 25th on this list and 144th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 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, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing 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 figures cited on this page cover the 94 schools with a reported completion median. 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