Wisconsin · Agricultural Production Operations

Best colleges for Agricultural Production Operations in Wisconsin

Ranked by graduate earnings

Fox Valley Technical College, Chippewa Valley Technical College and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees and certificates in Wisconsin: 41, 25 and 15 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Wisconsin colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations and award 122 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as managing livestock. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career…

Institutions
10
offering CIP 01.03
States offered
48
with a program page
Degrees / yr
122
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,132
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$10,751
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
56%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
$96,880
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Northcentral Technical College
Wausau Public · Associate degree Small program
$28,132545%—$9,000

Colleges awarding the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees in Wisconsin

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton Public
41Not reported
2Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire Public
25Not reported
3Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Fennimore Public
15Not reported
4Northwood Technical College
Rice Lake Public
10Not reported
5University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public
10Not reported
6Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland Public
6Not reported
7Northcentral Technical College
Wausau Public
5$28,132
8Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay Public
5Not reported
9Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids Public
4Not reported
10College of Menominee Nation
Keshena Private not-for-profit
1Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers (SOC 11-9013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.3%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~85,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$87,980
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringActive Learning

What Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
30
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$96,880
median $86,320
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

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$77,760 avg · 970 jobs
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$36,560 avg · 930 jobs
Soil and Plant Scientists
$68,620 avg · 680 jobs
Farm and Home Management Educators
$60,390 avg · 670 jobs
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$100,130 avg · 370 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$63,090 avg · 330 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Agricultural Production Operations programs in Wisconsin.

Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees?+

Fox Valley Technical College (41 graduates a year), Chippewa Valley Technical College (25 graduates a year) and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (15 graduates a year) award the most Agricultural Production Operations degrees and certificates in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Wisconsin colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations.

How much do Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn in Wisconsin?+

The average annual wage for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers in Wisconsin is $96,880 (median $86,320), across about 30 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Agricultural Production Operations program?+

The Agricultural Production Operations program focuses on the essential practices of cultivating soil, planting, and harvesting crops, as well as managing livestock. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers?+

The national job outlook is about -1.3% growth with around 85,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Agricultural Production Operations in other statesNorth DakotaWashingtonUtahIowaNorth CarolinaSouth DakotaKentuckyConnecticut

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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