2026 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/agriculture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agriculture schools.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland Eastern Shore the best value for a degree in agriculture in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the town of Princess Anne, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,076 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,122. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $26,996. Agriculture graduates of University Of Maryland Eastern Shore earn a median of $39,742 early in their careers. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
A rank of #3 makes Delaware State University one of the best values for agriculture. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,670 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $23,625. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Delaware State University generally make around $38,873. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture will find it at University Of Delaware, which ranked #4. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $24,372. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $39,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #5 makes Rutgers University New Brunswick one of the best values for agriculture. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $25,120. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $58,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cornell University came in at #6 for value in agriculture this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $15,599 in student loans. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $53,465. Set against $15,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for agriculture value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 13 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.