Best institutions to study Agricultural Production Operations
Any instructional program in agricultural production operations not listed above.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 10 Agricultural Production Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0399, 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
Any instructional program in agricultural production operations not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the principles and practices of agricultural production not covered by other specific programs. It is designed for individuals interested in managing agricultural operations, including farming and ranching, and those looking to enhance their skills in agricultural management. This program caters to students seeking to enter or advance in the agricultural field.
Students in this program will develop essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mathematics. They will gain knowledge in areas such as administration, biology, and production processes, preparing them for various tasks in agricultural management and operations.
Credentials awarded
What Agricultural Production Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution40%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year4 graduates / yr · 1 institution40%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution20%
Graduates over time
Agricultural Production Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2015 | 68 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 10 |
Top 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 6 | 38% | — |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 40% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Agricultural Production Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Agricultural Production Operations programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 1 | 6 | Ellsworth Community College6 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 4 | Ivy Tech Community College4 / yr |
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. The job outlook indicates a decline of 1.3% in this field, with approximately 85,500 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $87,980, and typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0399
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).
- Agricultural Production OperationsCIP 01.0301968 graduates / yr63 institutions
- 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
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 credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 2 colleges offering the Agricultural Production Operations program in the U.S.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and various management skills relevant to agricultural operations.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.3%, with about 85,500 annual openings in agricultural management roles.
What is the CIP code for Agricultural Production Operations?+
Agricultural Production Operations is CIP 01.0399 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Agricultural Production Operations (CIP 01.03). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in agricultural production operations not listed above.
How many institutions offer Agricultural Production Operations programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Agricultural Production Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 10 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% 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).
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