[Crop Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/crop-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong crop production education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 68 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value crop production schools.
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Finding the Best Value Crop Production School for You
Where you study crop production affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Crop Production Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Crop Production Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Leading the list is Mt San Antonio College, our #1 best value for crop production in the United States. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $9,384. Crop Production graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value crop production schools. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Crop Production graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Sequoias earned it the #3 place for crop production. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $10,288. Crop Production graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in crop production, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $6,000. Crop Production graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #5 place for crop production. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the crop production program here. Early-career crop production graduates make about $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
Merced College landed the #6 spot for crop production value this year. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $9,024. Early-career crop production graduates make about $45,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College earned the #7 position for value in crop production this year. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the crop production program here. Early-career crop production graduates make about $37,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bakersfield College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value crop production schools. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students from in state pay about $1,430 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $9,419. Early-career crop production graduates make about $86,312. That is a strong return on a $9,419 median debt.
Black Hawk College earned the #9 position for value in crop production this year. Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Moline. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $8,100. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the crop production program here. Early-career crop production graduates make about $44,286. That is a strong return on a $11,340 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #10 position for value in crop production this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Crop Production graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #11 for value in crop production this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the crop production program here. Crop Production graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value crop production schools. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Crop Production graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Hills College Coalinga ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value crop production schools. Located in the town of Coalinga, West Hills College Coalinga is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,384, compared with $10,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,920 to complete the crop production program here. Early-career crop production graduates make about $41,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College earned the #14 position for value in crop production this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. In-state tuition and fees average $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the crop production program here. Crop Production graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #15 among the best values for crop production. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $14,234. Crop Production graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cloud County Community College earned the #16 position for value in crop production this year. Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Concordia. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $12,839 in student loans. Crop Production graduates of Cloud County Community College earn a median of $53,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,839 median debt.
College Of The Desert landed the #17 spot for crop production value this year. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,326, compared with $10,174 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete the crop production program here. Soon after graduation, crop production degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $7,826 median debt.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for crop production. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career crop production graduates make about $62,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #19 for value in crop production this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crop production degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,198. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earned the #20 position for value in crop production this year. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Typical student debt for crop production graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, crop production degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute generally make around $33,940. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Michigan State University came in at #21 for value in crop production this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Crop Production graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, crop production degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $35,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #22 spot for crop production value this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the crop production program here. Early-career crop production graduates make about $25,439. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
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 · 68 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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).
[Crop Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/crop-production/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong crop production education at a price that pays off.
