by our College Data Analytics Team
[Agricultural Mechanization](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanization-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural mechanization education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural mechanization students.
What’s on this page:
The right agricultural mechanization school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Agricultural Mechanization Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Agricultural Mechanization Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural mechanization degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in agricultural mechanization, no school beat Ivy Tech Community College this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $11,889. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Rend Lake College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanization schools. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. Students from in state pay about $4,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,800. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $8,688. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $42,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Walla Walla Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanization schools. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,279, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. Agricultural Mechanization graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from Walla Walla Community College generally make around $46,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State College Of Science came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanization schools. Set in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,974 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,973. Agricultural Mechanization graduates carry a median of $12,553 in student loans. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $62,531. Set against $12,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Northwest Mississippi Community College one of the best values for agricultural mechanization. Located in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,740. Agricultural Mechanization graduates carry a median of $9,990 in student loans. Agricultural Mechanization graduates of Northwest Mississippi Community College earn a median of $49,040 early in their careers. Set against $9,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Owens Community College placed #6 among the best values for agricultural mechanization. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,383 to complete the agricultural mechanization program here. Agricultural Mechanization graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $53,350 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanization schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,270 to complete the agricultural mechanization program here. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $58,806. Set against $20,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Linn State Technical College landed the #8 spot for agricultural mechanization value this year. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,042 to complete the agricultural mechanization program here. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $45,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #9 for value in agricultural mechanization this year. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Agricultural Mechanization graduates carry a median of $12,730 in student loans. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $55,301. That is a strong return on a $12,730 median debt.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #10 position for value in agricultural mechanization this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Mechanization graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans. Agricultural Mechanization graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $73,053 early in their careers. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Navarro College came in at #11 for value in agricultural mechanization this year. Set in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,008, while out-of-state students pay about $6,578. Students borrow a median of $13,781 to complete the agricultural mechanization program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from Navarro College generally make around $43,216. That is a strong return on a $13,781 median debt.
Sam Houston State University placed #12 among the best values for agricultural mechanization. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the agricultural mechanization program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $63,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #13 among the best values for agricultural mechanization. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $22,113. Agricultural Mechanization graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #14 spot for agricultural mechanization value this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $23,750. Early-career agricultural mechanization graduates make about $59,052. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanization schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $19,344. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $63,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University earned the #16 position for value in agricultural mechanization this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $20,946. Agricultural Mechanization graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $63,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,946 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University landed the #17 spot for agricultural mechanization value this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $47,492. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #18 position for value in agricultural mechanization this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanization graduates is $18,479. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanization degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $52,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Agricultural Mechanization. See all related rankings.
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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.