2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Wisconsin
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) 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 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agriculture & agriculture operations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
For return on investment in agriculture & agriculture operations, no school beat Lakeshore Technical College this year. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $41,252. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned it the #2 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,829. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $37,132. That is a strong return on a $14,829 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Milwaukee Area Technical College one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $18,296. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned it the #5 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $42,016. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #6 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $44,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $13,319. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #8 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,234. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #9 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $28,132. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #10 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $13,669. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $43,479. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #11 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $34,698. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #12 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Students borrow a median of $22,365 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $41,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $22,989 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $50,046. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #14 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $18,692 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $48,840 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,692 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #15 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $20,550 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $47,699 early in their careers. Set against $20,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #16 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $25,821. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,821 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Milwaukee Career College earned the #17 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the suburb of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Milwaukee Career College earn a median of $30,488 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
