2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Missouri
[Agriculture & Agriculture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agriculture & agriculture operations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for agriculture & agriculture operations students.
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2026 Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agriculture & agriculture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Schools
Our analysis ranked Crowder College the best value for a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations in Missouri. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. Students from in state pay about $4,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,784. Students borrow a median of $9,887 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Crowder College generally make around $26,323. Set against $9,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Louis Community College earned it the #2 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $38,999 early in their careers. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in agriculture & agriculture operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $15,866. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $13,664 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moberly Area Community College earned it the #5 place for agriculture & agriculture operations. Set in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $8,640. Students borrow a median of $12,507 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $44,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
State Fair Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,416. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $15,328. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $39,168 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $7,934 in student loans. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $37,631 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,934 median debt.
College Of The Ozarks ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,360. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $41,729 early in their careers. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University West Plains ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Located in the town of West Plains, Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,936, compared with $8,106 for out-of-state students. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $42,523. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt.
North Central Missouri College earned the #10 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trenton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of North Central Missouri College earn a median of $26,927 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Truman State University came in at #11 for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,566. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $36,853. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Truman State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Linn State Technical College earned the #12 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, with out-of-state students paying around $14,610. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $11,042. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $45,538. That is a strong return on a $11,042 median debt.
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, compared with $17,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,831 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates of Lincoln University Missouri earn a median of $37,449 early in their careers. Set against $32,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #14 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $15,013 in student loans. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $45,873. That is a strong return on a $15,013 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,235 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $43,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Students borrow a median of $23,542 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $38,998. Set against $23,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #17 spot for agriculture & agriculture operations value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $18,965 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $36,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Agriculture & Agriculture Operations graduates carry a median of $18,408 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $43,474. That is a strong return on a $18,408 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Midwest Institute earned the #19 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Set in the suburb of Earth City, Midwest Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for agriculture & agriculture operations graduates is $16,000. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $31,586. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
William Woods University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value agriculture & agriculture operations schools. William Woods University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fulton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,340. Students borrow a median of $26,406 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Soon after graduation, agriculture & agriculture operations degree recipients from William Woods University generally make around $30,545. That is a strong return on a $26,406 median debt. William Woods University admits about 71% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in agriculture & agriculture operations this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete the agriculture & agriculture operations program here. Early-career agriculture & agriculture operations graduates make about $65,599. That is a strong return on a $26,586 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Agriculture & Agriculture Operations Rankings
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
