2026 Best Value Agricultural Business Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Agricultural Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/agricultural-business/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural business education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural business students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Agricultural Business Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural business degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Business Schools
For return on investment in agricultural business, no school beat Central Community College this year. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the agricultural business program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural business will find it at Crowder College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,104, while out-of-state students pay about $5,784. Students borrow a median of $9,887 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $25,932 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Community College Area earned it the #3 place for agricultural business. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $10,748 in student loans. Agricultural Business graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $42,642 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,748 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa Central Community College earned it the #4 place for agricultural business. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $16,135. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,624. That is a strong return on a $16,135 median debt.
Bismarck State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural business, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $38,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State College Of Science came in at #6 for value in agricultural business this year. North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wahpeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,974, compared with $6,973 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $11,956 in student loans. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $48,646. Set against $11,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #7 for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, while out-of-state students pay about $7,770. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $39,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,348 median debt.
North Central Missouri College placed #8 among the best values for agricultural business. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the agricultural business program here. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $26,927. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Region State College earned the #9 position for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the town of Devils Lake, Lake Region State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,520. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $15,784. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $48,331. That is a strong return on a $15,784 median debt.
Fort Hays State University placed #10 among the best values for agricultural business. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $19,250. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $47,012. Set against $19,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural business schools. Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a small public school located in the rural area of Curtis. In-state tuition and fees average $5,926. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $12,127 in student loans. Agricultural Business graduates of Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture earn a median of $28,610 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,127 median debt.
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #12 spot for agricultural business value this year. Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Watertown. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $12,000. Agricultural Business graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $41,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the agricultural business program here. Agricultural Business graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $59,953 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #14 spot for agricultural business value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $19,500. Agricultural Business graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $53,229 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #15 for value in agricultural business this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural business graduates is $19,641. Soon after graduation, agricultural business degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $75,263. That is a strong return on a $19,641 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #16 spot for agricultural business value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Agricultural Business graduates carry a median of $17,499 in student loans. Early-career agricultural business graduates make about $58,335. Set against $17,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Agricultural Business Schools by State
More Agricultural Business Rankings
View All Agricultural Business Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
