2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Virginia
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for agriculture & agriculture operations students.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Virginia
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
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #1 spot for value among agriculture & agriculture operations schools in Virginia. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in agriculture & agriculture operations will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $13,715. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,101 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $42,966 early in their careers. Set against $21,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tidewater Community College earned it the #4 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,001 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave one of the best values for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Students borrow a median of $16,562 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave generally make around $39,510. That is a strong return on a $16,562 median debt.
Virginia State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $25,545. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Ferrum College came in at #7 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the rural area of Ferrum, Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,380 in tuition and fees. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $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 earned the #8 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $19,063 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $35,942. That is a strong return on a $19,063 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
More Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
