Best institutions to study Agricultural Production Operations
A program that focuses on the general planning, economics, and use of facilities, natural resources, equipment, labor, and capital to produce plant and animal products, and that may prepare individuals for work in farming, ranching, and agribusiness.
63 U.S. institutions graduated 968 Agricultural Production Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0301, a specialization of Agricultural Production Operations (CIP 01.03), and leads most directly to the Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9013).
About Agricultural Production Operations programs
A program that focuses on the general planning, economics, and use of facilities, natural resources, equipment, labor, and capital to produce plant and animal products, and that may prepare individuals for work in farming, ranching, and agribusiness.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the planning, economics, and management of resources necessary for producing plant and animal products. This program is designed for individuals interested in careers in farming, ranching, and agribusiness, providing a comprehensive understanding of agricultural practices and operations. Students will gain insights into the effective use of facilities, natural resources, equipment, labor, and capital in the agricultural sector.
Core coursework covers critical skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics, alongside essential knowledge in administration, biology, and production processes. Students will learn to collect and analyze data related to growth and production, manage nurseries, and address challenges like pest infestations and resource allocation.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural Production Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree336 graduates / yr · 42 institutions35%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year309 graduates / yr · 24 institutions32%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years213 graduates / yr · 22 institutions22%
- Bachelor's degree91 graduates / yr · 9 institutions9.4%
- Master's degree14 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.4%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Agricultural Production Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 577 |
| 2013 | 499 |
| 2014 | 602 |
| 2015 | 729 |
| 2016 | 721 |
| 2017 | 705 |
| 2018 | 664 |
| 2019 | 766 |
| 2020 | 897 |
| 2021 | 600 |
| 2022 | 612 |
| 2023 | 706 |
| 2024 | 814 |
| 2025 | 968 |
Top 50 institutions for Agricultural Production Operations, 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 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 96 | 43% | — | $42,392 |
| 2 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 93 | 54% | — | — |
| 3 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Curtis, NEPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 75 | 61% | — | $24,427 |
| 4 | George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville Hanceville, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 50 | 51% | — | — |
| 5 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 47 | 50% | — | — |
| 6 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 41 | 81% | — | $35,978 |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicAssociate's | 39 | 86% | — | $36,083 |
| 8 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 32 | 59% | — | — |
| 9 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 28 | 21% | — | — |
| 10 | Henderson Community College Henderson, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 26 | 35% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, ARPublicBachelor's | 25 | 40% | — | — |
| 12 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 61% | — | — |
| 13 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 20 | 43% | — | — |
| 14 | Cloud County Community College Concordia, KSPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 55% | — | — |
| 15 | Garden City Community College Garden City, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 18 | 50% | — | — |
| 16 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicBachelor's | 16 | 50% | — | $40,047 |
| 17 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SCPublicAssociate's | 16 | 33% | — | — |
| 18 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicMaster's | 14 | 71% | — | — |
| 19 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAssociate's | 14 | 58% | — | — |
| 20 | Rend Lake College Ina, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 14 | 63% | — | — |
| 21 | College of Southern Idaho Twin Falls, IDPublicAssociate's | 13 | 33% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 12 | 68% | — | — |
| 23 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 12 | 45% | — | — |
| 24 | Black Hawk College Moline, ILPublicAssociate's | 11 | 40% | — | — |
| 25 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney, ILPublicAssociate's | 11 | 63% | — | — |
| 26 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, ILPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 48% | — | — |
| 27 | Madisonville Community College Madisonville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 11 | 49% | — | — |
| 28 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicBachelor's | 11 | 62% | — | — |
| 29 | Highland Community College Freeport, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 45% | — | — |
| 30 | Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 10 | 42% | — | — |
| 31 | Columbia Basin College Pasco, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 33% | — | — |
| 32 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 60% | — | $56,743 |
| 33 | Northeastern Junior College Sterling, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 56% | — | — |
| 34 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DEPublicAssociate's | 8 | 22% | — | — |
| 35 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 8 | 70% | $24,569 | — |
| 36 | South Central College North Mankato, MNPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 39% | — | — |
| 37 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 65% | — | — |
| 38 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas, ARPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of less than 12 weeks | 7 | 55% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 52% | $16,473 | $41,737 |
| 40 | Northwest College Powell, WYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 7 | 49% | — | — |
| 41 | Lamar Community College Lamar, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 55% | — | — |
| 42 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 51% | — | $38,924 |
| 43 | Laramie County Community College Cheyenne, WYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 38% | — | — |
| 44 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 32% | — | — |
| 45 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 85% | — | $35,198 |
| 46 | Sul Ross State University Alpine, TXPublicBachelor's | 4 | 30% | — | — |
| 47 | Wenatchee Valley College Wenatchee, WAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 43% | — | — |
| 48 | Mid - State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 4 | 52% | — | — |
| 49 | University of Puerto Rico - Utuado Utuado, PRPublicAssociate's | 4 | 23% | — | — |
| 50 | Colorado Northwestern Community College Rangely, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 3 | 34% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Agricultural Production Operations field (CIP 01.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 28 states & territories
Where Agricultural Production Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural Production Operations programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9013, Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agricultural Production Operations program can pursue careers as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, among other roles. The job outlook for this field indicates a decline of 1.3%, with approximately 85,500 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $87,980, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0301
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managersprimary SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Agricultural Production Operations 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Agricultural Production Operations specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Agricultural Production Operations (CIP 01.03).
- Animal/CIP 01.0302
Livestock Husbandry and Production 860 graduates / yr55 institutions - Agroecology and Sustainable AgricultureCIP 01.0308767 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Crop ProductionCIP 01.0304526 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Horse Husbandry/CIP 01.0307
Equine Science and Management 479 graduates / yr43 institutions - AquacultureCIP 01.0303131 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Dairy Husbandry and ProductionCIP 01.0306partial data63 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Agricultural Production OperationsCIP 01.0399limited data10 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Apiculture01.0310
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, mathematics, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Farmer, Rancher, or Agricultural Manager, among other related occupations.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.3%, with about 85,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Production Operations?+
Agricultural Production Operations is CIP 01.0301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural Production Operations (CIP 01.03). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the general planning, economics, and use of facilities, natural resources, equipment, labor, and capital to produce plant and animal products, and that may prepare individuals for work in farming, ranching, and agribusiness.
How many institutions offer Agricultural Production Operations programs?+
63 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural Production Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states & territories, awarding 968 credentials in the year. That is 25.4% of all Agricultural Production Operations graduates.
How much do Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation, which Agricultural Production Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,900 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Agricultural Production Operations field report median earnings of $40,047 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card