by our College Data Analytics Team
[Agricultural Teacher Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/agricultural-teacher-education/) 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 5 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural teacher education students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural teacher education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is College Of The Ozarks, our #1 best value for agricultural teacher education in Missouri. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,360 in tuition and fees. Early-career agricultural teacher education graduates make about $37,042. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Southeast Missouri State University one of the best values for agricultural teacher education. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for agricultural teacher education graduates is $21,748. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $34,206. That is a strong return on a $21,748 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Northwest Missouri State University one of the best values for agricultural teacher education. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for agricultural teacher education graduates is $26,221. Soon after graduation, agricultural teacher education degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $38,832. Set against $26,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Columbia earned it the #4 place for agricultural teacher education. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates carry a median of $17,654 in student loans. Agricultural Teacher Education graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $39,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
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This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.