2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 46 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agricultural production schools.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Production Schools
Lake Land College tops our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools in the Great Lakes Region. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production, landing the #2 spot this year. Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Freeport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,936, while out-of-state students pay about $7,360. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $13,783 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $46,384. That is a strong return on a $13,783 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Joliet Junior College one of the best values for agricultural production. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $11,995. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Black Hawk College earned it the #5 place for agricultural production. 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. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,340 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $44,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #6 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #7 among the best values for agricultural production. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,112 median debt.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,260, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College generally make around $38,331. That is a strong return on a $9,434 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #9 spot for agricultural production value this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #10 among the best values for agricultural production. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $15,211. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $56,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute placed #13 among the best values for agricultural production. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Wooster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural 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 landed the #14 spot for agricultural production value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $35,978 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
