Best Schools for Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural Engineering graduates earn a median of $57,143 within two years of graduation, ranking #43 out of 292 tracked majors — 61% above the median across all fields. There are 25 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 848 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Maryland-College Park graduates earn $73,164 while University of Kentucky graduates earn $46,087 — a $27,077 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Agricultural Engineering graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

25
Schools
$57,143
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#43
of 292 Majors
848
Graduates

Public vs Private: Agricultural Engineering

Public (24 schools)
$57,370
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (1 schools)
$51,690
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Agricultural Engineering, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Agricultural Engineering by State

Top Agricultural Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$73,164
2yr Earnings
1yr: $60,946
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 44.8%
#2
N

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

$67,660
2yr Earnings
1yr: $59,019
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 95.8%
#3
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$67,324
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.1%
#4
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$65,238
2yr Earnings
1yr: $56,730
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 77.0%
#5
U

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$64,791
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 37.2%
#6
P

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$63,997
2yr Earnings
1yr: $63,560
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 50.3%
#7
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$63,749
2yr Earnings
1yr: $61,703
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 43.4%
#8
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $56,190
Grads: 125
Acceptance: 43.7%
#9
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$60,485
2yr Earnings
1yr: $63,141
Grads: 52
Acceptance: 89.1%
#10
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$57,920
2yr Earnings
1yr: $50,931
Grads: 90
Acceptance: 50.8%
#11
R

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

$57,318
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 65.3%
#12
V

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$57,318
2yr Earnings
1yr: $60,131
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 57.0%
#13
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$56,415
2yr Earnings
1yr: $59,306
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 83.9%
#14
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$55,964
2yr Earnings
1yr: $67,924
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 29.8%
#15
K

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$55,718
2yr Earnings
1yr: $57,356
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 79.4%
#16
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$55,693
2yr Earnings
1yr: $59,810
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 39.9%
#17
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$53,984
2yr Earnings
1yr: $60,523
Grads: 39
Acceptance: 63.2%
#18
S

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Cobleskill, NY · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,762
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 83.3%
#19
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$51,690
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.2%
#20
U

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public

$49,269
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,144
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 81.6%
#21
C

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

$48,823
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,666
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 38.0%
#22
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$48,041
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,575
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 78.8%
#23
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$48,041
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,575
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 68.4%
#24
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$46,478
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 24.0%
#25
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $51,269
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 92.4%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Agricultural Engineering?
University of Maryland-College Park ranks #1 for Agricultural Engineering with median graduate earnings of $73,164 within two years. There are 25 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Agricultural Engineering graduates earn?
Agricultural Engineering graduates earn an average of $57,143 within two years of graduation. This is 61% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $46,087 to $73,164 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Agricultural Engineering program?
The average acceptance rate across Agricultural Engineering programs is 60.1%. The most selective program is at Cornell University with a 8.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Agricultural Engineering?
Private Agricultural Engineering programs average $51,690 in early earnings vs $57,370 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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