California · Agricultural Business and Management

Best colleges for Agricultural Business and Management in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Fresno and California State University - Chico are the top bachelor's Agricultural Business and Management programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,778, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State University - Fresno and Reedley College award the most Agricultural Business and Management degrees in California: 160, 111 and 111 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 California colleges offer Agricultural Business and Management and award 961 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Agricultural Business and Management program focuses on the intersection of agriculture and business, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the agribusiness industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

Institutions
36
offering CIP 01.01
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
961
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$47,937
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
43%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
$122,560
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,77816086%—$14,500
2California State University - Fresno
Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,10011157%—$13,139
3California State University - Chico
Chico Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,9375063%—$11,250
4California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,2722168%—$20,500

Colleges awarding the most Agricultural Business and Management degrees in California

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Public
160$52,778
2California State University - Fresno
Fresno Public
111$50,100
3Reedley College
Reedley Public
111Not reported
4Coalinga College
Coalinga Public
56Not reported
5California State University - Chico
Chico Public
50$47,937
6Merced College
Merced Public
49Not reported
7Modesto Junior College
Modesto Public
43Not reported
8Sierra College
Rocklin Public
36Not reported
9College of the Sequoias
Visalia Public
22Not reported
10California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Pomona Public
21$38,272
Show the other 26 California colleges offering Agricultural Business and Management
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Bakersfield CollegeBakersfieldPublic89
Shasta CollegeReddingPublic23
Feather River Community College DistrictQuincyPublic20
Hartnell CollegeSalinasPublic20
Butte CollegeOrovillePublic18
California State University - BakersfieldBakersfieldPublic16
Woodland Community CollegeWoodlandPublic16
Cuesta CollegeSan Luis ObispoPublic14
Lassen Community CollegeSusanvillePublic11
Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta RosaPublic11
Imperial Valley CollegeImperialPublic7
Porterville CollegePortervillePublic7
Ventura CollegeVenturaPublic7
Cosumnes River CollegeSacramentoPublic6
Allan Hancock CollegeSanta MariaPublic5
University of California-DavisDavisPublic5
College of the RedwoodsEurekaPublic4
San Joaquin Delta CollegeStocktonPublic4
Sonoma State UniversityRohnert ParkPublic4
Madera Community CollegeMaderaPublic4
Cabrillo CollegeAptosPublic3
College of the DesertPalm DesertPublic3
Yuba CollegeMarysvillePublic2
Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland HillsPublic1
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnutPublic1
Lemoore CollegeLemoorePublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (SOC 11-9013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.3%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~85,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$87,980
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringActive Learning

What Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in California

Jobs in California
1,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$122,560
median $109,140
Best-paying metro
$147,880
Napa, CA

Related careers

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
$82,290 avg · 149,230 jobs
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
$88,460 avg · 134,800 jobs
Computer User Support Specialists
$85,030 avg · 74,490 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$61,320 avg · 10,450 jobs
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
$122,560 avg · 1,650 jobs
Economists
$133,680 avg · 860 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Agricultural Business and Management programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Agricultural Business and Management degrees?+

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (160 graduates a year), California State University - Fresno (111 graduates a year) and Reedley College (111 graduates a year) award the most Agricultural Business and Management degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 California colleges offer Agricultural Business and Management.

What is the best college for Agricultural Business and Management in California?+

By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Agricultural Business and Management programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,778, College Scorecard. California State University - Fresno and California State University - Chico follow. By degrees awarded, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the largest, with 160 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Agricultural Business and Management program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $52,778. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers in California is $122,560 (median $109,140), across about 1,650 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Agricultural Business and Management program?+

The Agricultural Business and Management program focuses on the intersection of agriculture and business, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the agribusiness industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?+

The national job outlook is about -1.3% growth with around 85,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Agricultural Business and Management in other statesNew YorkMichiganIllinoisWisconsinKansasNebraskaMarylandIndiana

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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