by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for agriculture & agriculture operations students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture & agriculture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Williamson College Of The Trades the best value for a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,611. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northampton County Area Community College earned it the #2 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $18,900. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $34,335 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $14,450. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $37,381. That is a strong return on a $14,450 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Manor College earned it the #4 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the suburb of Jenkintown, Manor College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,780. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $29,750. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Manor College earn a median of $43,308 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the suburb of Media, Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,850. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $22,631 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $40,998. Set against $22,631 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Saint Francis University earned the #6 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,388. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $30,729 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Saint Francis University earn a median of $63,097 early in their careers. Set against $30,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #7 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Lancaster County Career And Technology Center earned the #8 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the suburb of Willow Street, Lancaster County Career And Technology Center is a small public university. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $13,858 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $48,126. That is a strong return on a $13,858 median debt.
Yti Career Institute York earned the #9 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Yti Career Institute York is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of York. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $16,829. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Yti Career Institute York generally make around $32,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #10 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson College earned the #11 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Johnson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,225. Students borrow a median of $16,083 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Johnson College earn a median of $37,373 early in their careers. Set against $16,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson College admits about 98% of applicants.
Vet Tech Institute earned the #12 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Vet Tech Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,320. Students borrow a median of $14,984 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Vet Tech Institute earn a median of $30,990 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,984 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Wilson College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,100. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $28,562. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $35,554. Set against $28,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Great Lakes Institute Of Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $10,208 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Great Lakes Institute Of Technology generally make around $18,155. That is a strong return on a $10,208 median debt.
Harcum College landed the #15 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,000. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $18,619 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $29,377. Set against $18,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Institute Of Medical Careers earned the #16 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, Institute Of Medical Careers is a small private for-profit institution. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $18,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Institute Of Medical Careers generally make around $26,365.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology landed the #17 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $30,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware Valley College landed the #18 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Located in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,850. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Delaware Valley College generally make around $38,078. Set against $26,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Delaware Valley College admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #19 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $100,273. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #21 among the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.