2026 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in North Carolina

[Agricultural Economics & Business](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-economics-business/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agricultural economics & business schools.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural economics & business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Economics & Business Schools
Leading the list is Wilkes Community College, our #1 best value for agricultural economics & business in North Carolina. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural economics & business will find it at Beaufort County Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,540, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $7,947. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $38,009. That is a strong return on a $7,947 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Mitchell Community College one of the best values for agricultural economics & business. Mitchell Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,651, while out-of-state students pay about $8,795. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $6,313. Agricultural Economics & Business graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Set against $6,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Isothermal Community College earned it the #4 place for agricultural economics & business. Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Spindale. Students from in state pay about $2,030 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,638. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $47,389. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural economics & business will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for agricultural economics & business graduates is $16,125. Soon after graduation, agricultural economics & business degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $44,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Mount Olive College landed the #6 spot for agricultural economics & business value this year. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,366. Students borrow a median of $22,237 to complete the agricultural economics & business program here. Early-career agricultural economics & business graduates make about $45,131. That is a strong return on a $22,237 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
More Agricultural Economics & Business Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.