by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dairy Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/dairy-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dairy science schools.
What’s on this page:
The dairy science program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Dairy Science Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Dairy Science 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.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dairy science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Northcentral Technical College, our #1 best value for dairy science in the United States. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $11,709. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $41,696. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dairy science schools. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Students borrow a median of $23,183 to complete the dairy science program here. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $37,852. Set against $23,183 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dairy science schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $20,500. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $33,879. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned it the #4 place for dairy science. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Dairy Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $44,956 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dairy science will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $26,000. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $44,354. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
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Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute landed the #6 spot for dairy science value this year. Set in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute generally make around $39,743. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Iowa State University placed #7 among the best values for dairy science. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the dairy science program here. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $39,567. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill placed #8 among the best values for dairy science. Set in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the dairy science program here. Dairy Science graduates of Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill earn a median of $37,068 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill admits about 84% of applicants.
South Dakota State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value dairy science schools. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $23,162 in student loans. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $44,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #10 spot for dairy science value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for dairy science graduates is $26,000. Early-career dairy science graduates make about $41,292. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #11 spot for dairy science value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Dairy Science graduates carry a median of $22,631 in student loans. Dairy Science graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $28,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,631 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Delaware Valley College placed #12 among the best values for dairy science. Located in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,850 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dairy science program here. Soon after graduation, dairy science degree recipients from Delaware Valley College generally make around $38,378. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Dairy Science. Browse the parent area of study.
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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.