Best institutions to study Agricultural Economics
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.
44 U.S. institutions graduated 1,691 Agricultural Economics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0103, a specialization of Agricultural Business and Management (CIP 01.01), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About Agricultural Economics programs
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. Includes instruction in economics and related subfields as well as applicable agricultural fields.
See also: 03.0204 - Environmental/Natural Resource Economics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural Economics program focuses on applying economic principles to analyze resource allocation, productivity, and investment trends within the agricultural sector, both domestically and internationally. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the economic factors that influence agriculture and related fields.
Students will develop essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and data analysis. Coursework typically includes economics, agricultural science, and statistical techniques, preparing graduates to address complex economic issues in the agricultural industry.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural Economics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,366 graduates / yr · 28 institutions81%
- Master's degree156 graduates / yr · 20 institutions9.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year81 graduates / yr · 6 institutions4.8%
- Associate's degree42 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship37 graduates / yr · 5 institutions2.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Agricultural Economics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,053 |
| 2013 | 2,137 |
| 2014 | 2,170 |
| 2015 | 2,253 |
| 2016 | 2,151 |
| 2017 | 2,272 |
| 2018 | 2,107 |
| 2019 | 2,234 |
| 2020 | 2,120 |
| 2021 | 1,899 |
| 2022 | 1,860 |
| 2023 | 1,729 |
| 2024 | 1,748 |
| 2025 | 1,691 |
Top 44 institutions for Agricultural Economics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 348 | 84% | — | $50,509 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 257 | 95% | $17,613 | $92,163 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 215 | 85% | — | $55,934 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 92 | 91% | — | $49,371 |
| 5 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 62 | 88% | — | $50,565 |
| 6 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 61 | 83% | — | $52,804 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor's | 59 | 69% | — | $50,509 |
| 8 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 52 | 82% | — | $50,936 |
| 9 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 49 | 71% | — | $53,751 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 43 | 90% | — | $49,868 |
| 11 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicBachelor's | 42 | 65% | — | $37,779 |
| 12 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 39 | 64% | — | $59,953 |
| 13 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 33 | 71% | — | $41,508 |
| 14 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 33 | 87% | — | $49,714 |
| 15 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAssociate's | 31 | 58% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 24 | 67% | — | $53,229 |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 23 | 62% | — | $40,194 |
| 18 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor's | 23 | 89% | — | $53,081 |
| 19 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor's | 22 | 67% | — | $51,292 |
| 20 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 90% | — | $49,611 |
| 21 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 22 | 68% | — | $45,095 |
| 22 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicMaster's | 18 | 71% | — | $54,783 |
| 23 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor's | 18 | 83% | — | $45,435 |
| 24 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 17 | 57% | — | $48,338 |
| 25 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicMaster's | 14 | 86% | — | $48,557 |
| 26 | Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GAPublicBachelor's | 11 | 41% | — | — |
| 27 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAssociate's | 10 | 21% | — | — |
| 28 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicMaster's | 9 | 74% | — | — |
| 29 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MSPublicBachelor's | 6 | 57% | — | $44,330 |
| 30 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TXPublicMaster's | 6 | 48% | — | $45,097 |
| 31 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 53% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicMaster's | 5 | 75% | — | $58,335 |
| 33 | University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PRPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 4 | 49% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicMaster's | 3 | 59% | — | $35,431 |
| 35 | Otero College La Junta, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 2 | 38% | — | — |
| 36 | Huntington University Huntington, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 64% | $13,056 | — |
| 37 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster's | 2 | 84% | — | — |
| 38 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicMaster's | 1 | 33% | — | — |
| 39 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 55% | $6,760 | $49,942 |
| 40 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 61% | — | — |
| 41 | Riverland Community College Austin, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 52% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 1 | 85% | — | $53,160 |
| 43 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 58% | — | $43,585 |
| 44 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicMaster's | 1 | 55% | — | $41,268 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Agricultural Business and Management field (CIP 01.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 32 states & territories
Where Agricultural Economics graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural Business and Management programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Agricultural Economics can pursue careers as economists, postsecondary economics teachers, or agricultural sciences educators. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with approximately 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440, typically requiring a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0103
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Economistsprimary SOC 19-3011 | $124,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~900 | Master's degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural Economics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Tools and technology used
Other Agricultural Business and Management specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Agricultural Business and Management (CIP 01.01).
- Agribusiness/CIP 01.0102
Agricultural Business Operations 3,742 graduates / yr167 institutions - Agricultural Business and ManagementCIP 01.01012,251 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Farm/CIP 01.0104
Farm and Ranch Management 757 graduates / yr50 institutions - Agricultural/CIP 01.0105
Farm Supplies Retailing and Wholesaling 269 graduates / yr12 institutions - Agricultural Business and ManagementCIP 01.0199106 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Agricultural Business Technology/CIP 01.0106
Technician partial data30 graduates / yr6 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, data analysis, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can become an economist, economics teacher, or agricultural sciences teacher.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with around 900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Economics?+
Agricultural Economics is CIP 01.0103 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural Business and Management (CIP 01.01). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in economics and related subfields as well as applicable agricultural fields.
How many institutions offer Agricultural Economics programs?+
44 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural Economics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 32 states & territories, awarding 1,691 credentials in the year. That is 19.1% of all Agricultural Business and Management graduates.
How much do Agricultural Economics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which Agricultural Economics most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Agricultural Business and Management field report median earnings of $49,942 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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