2026 Best Value Food Processing Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Food Processing](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/food-processing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value food processing schools.
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2026 Best Value Food Processing Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the food processing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Food Processing Schools
Garden City Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value food processing schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the food processing program here. Food Processing graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $35,476 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in food processing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the food processing program here. Soon after graduation, food processing degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $76,052. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Morningside College one of the best values for food processing. Set in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,519 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,969 to complete the food processing program here. Early-career food processing graduates make about $48,505. Set against $26,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
