2026 Best Value General Agriculture Schools in the Southeast Region
[General Agriculture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/general-agriculture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general agriculture education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general agriculture students.
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2026 Best Value General Agriculture Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general agriculture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Agriculture Schools
Our analysis ranked Berea College the best value for a degree in general agriculture in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,658. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete the general agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Berea College generally make around $25,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Berea College admits about 19% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Potomac State College Of West Virginia University one of the best values for general agriculture. Set in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,200. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $19,858. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $42,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kentucky State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general agriculture, landing the #3 spot this year. Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frankfort. Students from in state pay about $9,387 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $29,774. General Agriculture graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $39,438 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $34,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University came in at #6 for value in general agriculture this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $23,656. General Agriculture graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $38,804 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,656 median debt. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Mcneese State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,489 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,989. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Mcneese State University generally make around $37,887. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #8 position for value in general agriculture this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $28,285 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $32,301 early in their careers. Set against $28,285 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #9 for value in general agriculture this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $14,915 in student loans. General Agriculture graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $33,508 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Alcorn State University placed #10 among the best values for general agriculture. Set in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,785. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Alcorn State University generally make around $37,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia State University came in at #11 for value in general agriculture this year. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $25,545. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Set against $25,545 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University landed the #12 spot for general agriculture value this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete the general agriculture program here. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $31,905. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University placed #13 among the best values for general agriculture. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $26,677 early in their careers. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #14 position for value in general agriculture this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $39,094. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern University And A And M College placed #15 among the best values for general agriculture. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,922 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,272 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the general agriculture program here. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $30,865. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Southern University And A And M College admits about 35% of applicants.
Warner University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Warner University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lake Wales. Students from in state pay about $29,992 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $22,250. General Agriculture graduates of Warner University earn a median of $44,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Ferrum College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general agriculture schools. Located in the rural area of Ferrum, Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,380. General Agriculture graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general agriculture degree recipients from Ferrum College generally make around $34,992. Set against $28,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #18 for value in general agriculture this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for general agriculture graduates is $23,393. Early-career general agriculture graduates make about $51,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Auburn University came in at #19 for value in general agriculture this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the general agriculture program here. General Agriculture graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $41,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
