Best colleges for Agriculture in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, Western Illinois University and Kaskaskia College award the most Agriculture degrees in Illinois: 117, 62 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Illinois colleges offer Agriculture and award 251 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Agriculture program, formally known as Agriculture, General, focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as livestock production. This program is ideal for students interested in the…
Top 3 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,509 | 62 | 45% | — | $18,969 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,295 | 117 | 65% | — | $18,750 |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,700 | 11 | 62% | — | $18,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Agriculture degrees in Illinois
Top 9 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 117 | $47,295 |
| 2 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 62 | $48,509 |
| 3 | Kaskaskia College Centralia Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 11 | $39,700 |
| 5 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 6 | Black Hawk College Moline Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 8 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 9 | Heartland Community College Normal Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Agricultural Technicians (SOC 19-4012).
Top skills
What Agricultural Technicians earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Agriculture programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Agriculture degrees?+
Illinois State University (117 graduates a year), Western Illinois University (62 graduates a year) and Kaskaskia College (46 graduates a year) award the most Agriculture degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Illinois colleges offer Agriculture.
Which Agriculture program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Western Illinois University tops the list at $48,509. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Agricultural Technicians earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Agricultural Technicians in Illinois is $50,960 (median $46,410), across about 700 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Agriculture program?+
The Agriculture program, formally known as Agriculture, General, focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as livestock production. This program is ideal for students interested in the…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Agricultural Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +4.3% growth with around 2,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree 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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