Best colleges for Agricultural Production Operations in Illinois
Ranked by graduates a year
Black Hawk College, Lake Land College and John Wood Community College award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees and certificates in Illinois: 46, 28 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Illinois colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations and award 196 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as managing livestock. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career…
16 institutions offering Agricultural Production Operations in Illinois
Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Hawk College Moline Public | — | 46 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Joliet Junior College Joliet Public | — | 32 | 21% | — | — |
| 3 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | — | 28 | 58% | — | — |
| 4 | John Wood Community College Quincy Public | — | 17 | 49% | — | — |
| 5 | Rend Lake College Ina Public | — | 14 | 63% | — | — |
| 6 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public | — | 11 | 63% | — | — |
| 7 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public | — | 11 | 48% | — | — |
| 8 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public | — | 10 | 25% | — | — |
| 9 | Highland Community College Freeport Public | — | 10 | 45% | — | — |
| 10 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | — | 4 | 32% | — | — |
| 11 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | — | 3 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 12 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | — | 2 | 37% | — | — |
| 13 | Richland Community College Decatur Public | — | 2 | 60% | — | — |
| 14 | Spoon River College Canton Public | — | 2 | 42% | — | — |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | — | 2 | 62% | — | — |
| 16 | Heartland Community College Normal Public | — | 2 | 54% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees in Illinois
Top 10 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 | Black Hawk College Moline Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 2 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 3 | John Wood Community College Quincy Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 4 | Rend Lake College Ina Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 6 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 7 | Highland Community College Freeport Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 9 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
| 10 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Illinois colleges offering Agricultural Production Operations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 32 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 10 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | 2 |
| Spoon River College | Canton | Public | 2 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 2 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (SOC 11-9013).
Top skills
What Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Agricultural Production Operations programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees?+
Black Hawk College (46 graduates a year), Lake Land College (28 graduates a year) and John Wood Community College (17 graduates a year) award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Illinois colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations.
How much do Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers in Illinois is $106,410 (median $99,440), across about 120 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Agricultural Production Operations program?+
The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as managing livestock. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career…
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).
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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