Best institutions to study Agriculture
Compare 143 U.S. colleges offering Agriculture by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 47 states.
Agriculture programs report a median of $39,438 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 01.00 and the Agricultural Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Agriculture programs
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 agricultural sector, which plays a vital role in food production and sustainability. Students will explore various aspects of agriculture, including both food and non-food crops, along with related fields such as forestry and aquaculture.
In this program, students develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active learning. Coursework typically covers knowledge areas such as food production, biology, chemistry, and mathematics, equipping students with the necessary tools to succeed in various agricultural tasks and operations.
Top 44 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 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,786 | 59 | 86% | — | $21,903 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,625 | 26 | 84% | — | $18,585 |
| 3 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,828 | 4 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,465 | 54 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,599 |
| 5 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,781 | 75 | 62% | — | $20,000 |
| 6 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,509 | 62 | 45% | — | $18,969 |
| 7 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,048 | 42 | 48% | — | $20,340 |
| 8 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,295 | 117 | 65% | — | $18,750 |
| 9 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,300 | 51 | 55% | — | $13,460 |
| 10 | Langston University Langston, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,155 | 25 | 17% | — | $28,310 |
| 11 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,994 | 53 | 55% | — | $20,699 |
| 12 | Warner University Lake Wales, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,154 | 10 | 42% | $22,026 | $22,250 |
| 13 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,669 | 33 | 67% | — | — |
| 14 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,101 | 27 | 53% | — | — |
| 15 | Dickinson State University Dickinson, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,583 | 15 | 51% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,145 | 28 | 75% | — | — |
| 17 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,682 | 15 | 82% | — | $17,625 |
| 18 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville Kingsville, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,646 | 27 | 42% | — | $22,875 |
| 19 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,084 | 54 | 85% | — | $19,000 |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,700 | 11 | 62% | — | $18,000 |
| 21 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,696 | 12 | 81% | — | $24,372 |
| 22 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,438 | 40 | 53% | — | $19,500 |
| 23 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $39,261 | 68 | 40% | — | $7,125 |
| 24 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,145 | 62 | 70% | — | $26,000 |
| 25 | Delaware State University Dover, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,873 | 21 | 39% | — | $23,625 |
| 26 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,804 | 68 | 56% | — | $23,656 |
| 27 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,678 | 20 | 54% | — | $18,250 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,606 | 25 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 29 | Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,063 | 60 | 43% | — | $28,500 |
| 30 | McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,887 | 56 | 47% | — | $19,500 |
| 31 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,771 | 25 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 32 | East Texas A&M University Commerce, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,728 | 51 | 43% | — | $20,500 |
| 33 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,853 | 11 | 69% | — | $19,500 |
| 34 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,737 | 21 | 58% | — | $20,625 |
| 35 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,378 | 20 | 48% | — | $26,345 |
| 36 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,255 | 47 | 34% | — | $27,000 |
| 37 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,508 | 39 | 58% | — | $14,915 |
| 38 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,301 | 49 | 57% | — | $28,285 |
| 39 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,905 | 29 | 40% | — | $18,625 |
| 40 | Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,865 | 43 | 27% | — | $28,250 |
| 41 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,677 | 54 | 53% | — | $16,750 |
| 42 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,666 | 22 | 55% | — | $22,993 |
| 43 | Berea College Berea, KY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,912 | 7 | 58% | $5,274 | — |
| 44 | University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,154 | 10 | 49% | — | $10,000 |
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 19-4012, Agricultural Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Agriculture program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 2,900 annual job openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $46,790, and a typical education requirement is an Associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Agriculture
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 01.00.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 01.00 (Agriculture, General) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 19-1011 | Animal Scientists |
| 19-1012 | Food Scientists and Technologists |
| 19-1013 | Soil and Plant Scientists |
| 19-4012 | Agricultural Techniciansprimary |
| 25-1041 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Agriculture 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
- Prepare land for cultivated crops, orchards, or vineyards by plowing, discing, leveling, or contouring.
- Operate farm machinery, including tractors, plows, mowers, combines, balers, sprayers, earthmoving equipment, or trucks.
- Record data pertaining to experimentation, research, or animal care.
- Maintain or repair agricultural facilities, equipment, or tools to ensure operational readiness, safety, and cleanliness.
- Perform crop production duties, such as tilling, hoeing, pruning, weeding, or harvesting crops.
- Collect animal or crop samples.
Concentrations within Agriculture
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Agriculture, GeneralCIP 01.0000
A program that focuses on the general principles and practice of agricultural research and production and that may prepare individuals to apply this knowledge to the solution of practical agricultural
Common questions
What is the focus of the Agriculture program?+
The program focuses on cultivating soil, planting, harvesting crops, and livestock production.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
Students will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and knowledge of food production and biology.
What is the job outlook for agriculture graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.3% and 2,900 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A typical education requirement for careers in agriculture is an Associate's degree.
How much do Agriculture graduates earn?+
Agriculture graduates report median earnings of $39,438 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Agricultural Technicians occupation pays about $53,840 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Agriculture?+
Agriculture maps to CIP 01.00 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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