Best colleges for Agricultural Mechanization in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Reedley College, Merced College and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most Agricultural Mechanization degrees and certificates in California: 229, 72 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 California colleges offer Agricultural Mechanization and award 424 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Agricultural Mechanization program focuses on the integration of machinery into agricultural practices, transitioning from manual labor to machine-assisted processes. This program is ideal for students interested in enhancing…
Top institution, 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,053 | 28 | 86% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Agricultural Mechanization degrees in California
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reedley College Reedley Public | 229 | Not reported |
| 2 | Merced College Merced Public | 72 | Not reported |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 28 | $73,053 |
| 4 | Modesto Junior College Modesto Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 5 | Butte College Oroville Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 6 | College of the Sequoias Visalia Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 7 | Madera Community College Madera Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 8 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton Public | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 California colleges offering Agricultural Mechanization
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta College | Redding | Public | 34 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | 26 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Agricultural Equipment Operators (SOC 45-2091).
Top skills
What Agricultural Equipment Operators earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Agricultural Mechanization programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Agricultural Mechanization degrees?+
Reedley College (229 graduates a year), Merced College (72 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (28 graduates a year) award the most Agricultural Mechanization degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 California colleges offer Agricultural Mechanization.
Which Agricultural Mechanization 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 $73,053. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Agricultural Equipment Operators earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Agricultural Equipment Operators in California is $42,730 (median $38,820), across about 7,940 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Agricultural Mechanization program?+
The Agricultural Mechanization program focuses on the integration of machinery into agricultural practices, transitioning from manual labor to machine-assisted processes. This program is ideal for students interested in enhancing…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Agricultural Equipment Operators?+
The national job outlook is about +7.7% growth with around 10,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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.
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