2026 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/agriculture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agriculture schools.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture Schools
Our analysis ranked Northeast Community College the best value for a degree in agriculture in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $11,937. Agriculture graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $15,866. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Missouri State University West Plains one of the best values for agriculture. Located in the town of West Plains, Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,936, while out-of-state students pay about $8,106. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Agriculture graduates of Missouri State University West Plains earn a median of $42,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ellsworth Community College earned it the #4 place for agriculture. Set in the town of Iowa Falls, Ellsworth Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,062 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Ellsworth Community College generally make around $40,503. That is a strong return on a $17,062 median debt.
Northwest Iowa Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture, landing the #5 spot this year. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $7,650. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $12,271 in student loans. Agriculture graduates of Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of $54,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,271 median debt.
Truman State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $36,853. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Northland Community And Technical College earned the #7 position for value in agriculture this year. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,289. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $18,550. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $46,528. Set against $18,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln University Missouri landed the #8 spot for agriculture value this year. Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jefferson City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, while out-of-state students pay about $17,692. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $32,831. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $37,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Hays State University placed #9 among the best values for agriculture. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $20,340. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $48,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $38,678. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Dickinson State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Dickinson State University is a small public school located in the town of Dickinson. In-state tuition and fees average $9,118. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $27,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Dickinson State University generally make around $42,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 37%.
Butler Community College placed #12 among the best values for agriculture. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #13 spot for agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $22,386. Agriculture graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $47,282 early in their careers. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
South Dakota State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $49,781. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the agriculture program here. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $35,737. That is a strong return on a $20,625 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #16 position for value in agriculture this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $42,145. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Concordia University Seward ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture schools. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,640. Agriculture graduates carry a median of $26,726 in student loans. Early-career agriculture graduates make about $51,046. That is a strong return on a $26,726 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
