2026 Best Value Agricultural Teacher Education Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Agricultural Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/agricultural-teacher-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agricultural teacher education schools.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Teacher Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Agricultural Teacher Education Schools
North Iowa Area Community College earned the #1 spot for value among agricultural teacher education schools in the The Plains States Region. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,653, while out-of-state students pay about $9,551. Students borrow a median of $12,043 to complete the agricultural teacher education program here. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $44,466 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,043 median debt.
College Of The Ozarks came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural teacher education 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. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,042. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural teacher education schools. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,748 to complete the agricultural teacher education program here. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $34,206. That is a strong return on a $21,748 median debt. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwest Minnesota State University earned it the #4 place for agricultural teacher education. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of $47,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in agricultural teacher education will find it at North Dakota State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,485 to complete the agricultural teacher education program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $46,970. Set against $25,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #6 spot for agricultural teacher education value this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,221 to complete the agricultural teacher education program here. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $38,832. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #7 spot for agricultural teacher education value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for agricultural teacher education graduates is $21,577. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $43,170. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #8 position for value in agricultural teacher education this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $45,786. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Kansas State University earned the #9 position for value in agricultural teacher education this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $22,814 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $45,179. That is a strong return on a $22,814 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Iowa State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural teacher education schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $47,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
South Dakota State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural teacher education schools. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $45,625. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural teacher education schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for agricultural teacher education graduates is $17,654. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $39,755. That is a strong return on a $17,654 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Morningside College came in at #13 for value in agricultural teacher education this year. Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. In-state tuition and fees average $39,519. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from Morningside College generally make around $52,560. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Upper Iowa University earned the #14 position for value in agricultural teacher education this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the agricultural teacher education program here. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $51,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
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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 · 23 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.