2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools
[Agricultural Production Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/agricultural-production-operations-other/) 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 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agricultural production operations schools.
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Finding the Best Value Agricultural Production Operations School for You
The agricultural production operations program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural production operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Production Operations Schools
For return on investment in agricultural production operations, no school beat Mt San Antonio College this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the agricultural production operations program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production operations degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Black River Technical College earned it the #3 place for agricultural production operations. Black River Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pocahontas. In-state tuition and fees average $4,776, compared with $7,488 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $12,420 in student loans. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Black River Technical College earn a median of $41,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,420 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian Hills Community College earned it the #4 place for agricultural production operations. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $49,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for agricultural production operations. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $41,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ellsworth Community College placed #6 among the best values for agricultural production operations. Set in the town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Typical student debt for agricultural production operations graduates is $17,062. Agricultural Production Operations graduates of Ellsworth Community College earn a median of $40,503 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mount Olive College earned the #7 position for value in agricultural production operations this year. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,366. Agricultural Production Operations graduates carry a median of $30,798 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production operations graduates make about $45,131. That is a strong return on a $30,798 median debt. Mount Olive College admits about 76% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
