2026 Best Value Livestock Management Schools
[Livestock Management](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/animal-science/livestock-management/) 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 livestock management schools.
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Finding the Best Value Livestock Management School for You
Where you study livestock management affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Livestock Management 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
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Livestock Management Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
See how we build our rankings
2026 Best Value Livestock Management Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the livestock management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Livestock Management Schools
Leading the list is Kansas State University, our #1 best value for livestock management in the United States. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,757 to complete the livestock management program here. Soon after graduation, livestock management degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $38,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value livestock management 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the livestock management program here. Livestock Management graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $39,567 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place for livestock management. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. 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 livestock management graduates is $26,000. Early-career livestock management graduates make about $41,292. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Clemson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in livestock management, landing the #4 spot this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for livestock management graduates is $24,827. Livestock Management graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $28,942 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
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Livestock Management is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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 · 14 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.
