Best institutions to study Agricultural Business and Management
Compare 342 U.S. colleges offering Agricultural Business and Management by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 47 states.
Agricultural Business and Management programs report a median of $47,907 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 01.01 and the Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Agricultural Business and Management programs
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 managing agricultural enterprises, understanding value chains, and maximizing profits while meeting consumer needs in the agricultural sector. Students in this program will explore various aspects of agribusiness, including farm management, agricultural economics, and the processing of food and fiber. With a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, graduates will be equipped to address challenges in the agricultural field and contribute to the bio-economy.
Core coursework in Agricultural Business and Management covers essential skills such as critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication. Students will gain knowledge in administration, production processes, and human resources, preparing them for diverse roles within the agricultural sector.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $92,163 | 257 | 95% | $17,613 | $13,258 |
| 2 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,152 | 8 | 58% | — | — |
| 3 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,953 | 48 | 64% | — | $19,500 |
| 4 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,335 | 53 | 75% | — | $17,499 |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,023 | 65 | 81% | — | $24,125 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,934 | 215 | 85% | — | $20,000 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,783 | 107 | 71% | — | $18,909 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,473 | 35 | 56% | — | $15,276 |
| 9 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,967 | 187 | 75% | — | $16,972 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,911 | 27 | 57% | — | $21,445 |
| 11 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,751 | 120 | 71% | — | $19,641 |
| 12 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,229 | 78 | 67% | — | $19,500 |
| 13 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,160 | 41 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 14 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,081 | 23 | 89% | — | $20,000 |
| 15 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,804 | 191 | 83% | — | $17,500 |
| 16 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,778 | 160 | 86% | — | $14,500 |
| 17 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,749 | 64 | 55% | — | $19,125 |
| 18 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,031 | 11 | 70% | — | $17,666 |
| 19 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,292 | 74 | 67% | — | $21,250 |
| 20 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,222 | 64 | 62% | — | $22,557 |
| 21 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,936 | 59 | 82% | — | $21,875 |
| 22 | Montana State University Bozeman, MT Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,876 | 27 | 57% | — | $20,000 |
| 23 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,565 | 62 | 88% | — | $20,000 |
| 24 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,509 | 846 | 84% | — | $20,125 |
| 25 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,509 | 102 | 69% | — | $19,588 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,136 | 94 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,136 | 24 | 34% | — | $26,000 |
| 28 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,100 | 111 | 57% | — | $13,139 |
| 29 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,013 | 14 | 54% | — | — |
| 30 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, ID Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,942 | 67 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 31 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,885 | 3 | 81% | — | $21,000 |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,868 | 61 | 90% | — | $14,000 |
| 33 | Clemson University Clemson, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,714 | 61 | 87% | — | $23,250 |
| 34 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,611 | 86 | 90% | — | $20,682 |
| 35 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,521 | 2 | 45% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,371 | 92 | 91% | — | $16,218 |
| 37 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,230 | 13 | 70% | $24,569 | $19,000 |
| 38 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,800 | 22 | 68% | — | $24,200 |
| 39 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, ND Public · Associate degree | $48,646 | 20 | 55% | — | $11,956 |
| 40 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,557 | 54 | 86% | — | $22,999 |
| 41 | University of Idaho Moscow, ID Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,338 | 42 | 57% | — | $17,956 |
| 42 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,302 | 32 | 54% | — | $19,250 |
| 43 | California State University - Chico Chico, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,937 | 50 | 63% | — | $11,250 |
| 44 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,907 | 28 | 55% | — | $20,643 |
| 45 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,802 | 17 | 56% | $25,402 | — |
| 46 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,519 | 54 | 36% | — | $21,500 |
| 47 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public · Associate degree | $47,472 | 44 | 43% | — | — |
| 48 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,012 | 40 | 48% | — | $19,250 |
| 49 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,849 | 170 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 50 | University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,845 | 8 | 50% | — | — |
Offered across 47 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9013, Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agricultural Business and Management program can pursue various careers in agribusiness, including farm management and agricultural operations. The job outlook indicates a decline of 1.3%, with approximately 85,500 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is $87,980, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Agricultural Business and Management
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.01 (Agricultural Business and Management) maps to 10 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9013 | Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managersprimary |
| 13-1021 | Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products |
| 15-1232 | Computer User Support Specialists |
| 19-3011 | Economists |
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1063 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 41-4012 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products |
| 43-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers |
| 45-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural Business and Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
Concentrations within Agricultural Business and Management
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Agricultural Business and Management, GeneralCIP 01.0101
A general program that focuses on modern business and economic principles involved in the organization, operation, and management of agricultural enterprises.
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business OperationsCIP 01.0102
A program that prepares individuals to manage agricultural businesses and agriculturally related operations within diversified corporations
- Agricultural EconomicsCIP 01.0103
A program that focuses on the application of economics to the analysis of resource allocation, productivity, investment, and trends in the agricultural sector, both domestically and internationally
- Farm/Farm and Ranch ManagementCIP 01.0104
A program that prepares individuals to manage farms, ranches, and similar enterprises
- Agricultural/Farm Supplies Retailing and WholesalingCIP 01.0105
A program that prepares individuals to sell agricultural products and supplies, provide support services to agricultural enterprises, and purchase and market agricultural products
- Agricultural Business Technology/TechnicianCIP 01.0106
A program that prepares individuals to perform specialized support functions related to agricultural business offices and operations and to operate agricultural office equipment, software, and informa
- Agricultural Business and Management, OtherCIP 01.0199
Any instructional program in agricultural business and management not listed above.
Common questions
What is Agricultural Business and Management?+
It is a program that combines agriculture and business principles to prepare students for careers in the agribusiness industry.
What skills will I learn?+
Students will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, communication, and knowledge of agricultural processes.
What career opportunities are available?+
Graduates can work in farm management, agricultural operations, and other roles within the agribusiness sector.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.3%, with about 85,500 annual openings and a median wage of $87,980.
How much do Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn?+
Agricultural Business and Management graduates report median earnings of $47,907 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation pays about $99,820 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Business and Management?+
Agricultural Business and Management maps to CIP 01.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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