2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Agricultural Production](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-production/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural production students.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Production Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural production, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Production Schools
For return on investment in agricultural production, no school beat Indian Hills Community College this year. Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ottumwa. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $15,390 in student loans. Agricultural Production 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.
Garden City Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $35,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,937 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agricultural production, landing the #4 spot this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $42,392. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Iowa Area Community College earned it the #5 place for agricultural production. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Students borrow a median of $12,043 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $44,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earned the #6 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Students borrow a median of $14,348 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar earn a median of $38,924 early in their careers. Set against $14,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Lakes Community College came in at #7 for value in agricultural production this year. Located in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,392, with out-of-state students paying around $7,872. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $20,876. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Iowa Lakes Community College generally make around $46,937. Set against $20,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ellsworth Community College landed the #8 spot for agricultural production value this year. Located in the town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $17,062. Agricultural Production graduates of Ellsworth Community College earn a median of $40,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,062 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Crookston landed the #9 spot for agricultural production value this year. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,288. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $26,661. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $48,840. Set against $26,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Cloud County Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,839 to complete the agricultural production program here. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $53,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Kansas Technical College earned the #11 position for value in agricultural production this year. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. Agricultural Production graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington earned the #12 position for value in agricultural production this year. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,420, with out-of-state students paying around $6,570. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete the agricultural production program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural production degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $45,760. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #13 spot for agricultural production value this year. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $40,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture placed #14 among the best values for agricultural production. Located in the rural area of Curtis, Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,926. Students borrow a median of $11,629 to complete the agricultural production program here. Agricultural Production graduates of Nebraska College Of Technical Agriculture earn a median of $24,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #15 for value in agricultural production this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $62,869 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Agricultural Production graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Agricultural Production graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Iowa State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural production schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for agricultural production graduates is $23,495. Early-career agricultural production graduates make about $53,900. That is a strong return on a $23,495 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
