Best Schools for Agricultural Production Operations

Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn a median of $55,617 within four years of graduating, ranking #160 out of 283 tracked majors — 11% below the median across all fields. There are 17 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 495 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: North Dakota State University-Main Campus graduates earn $83,779 while Centenary University graduates earn $34,057 — a $49,722 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Agricultural Production Operations graduates see an average 6% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$55,617

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#160

of 283 Majors

495

Graduates

Public vs Private: Agricultural Production Operations

Public (15 schools)

$57,903

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (2 schools)

$41,902

avg. 2yr earnings

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

Agricultural Production Operations by State

Top Agricultural Production Operations Schools by Graduate Earnings

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$69,708

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

1yr: $41,571 (41)

Acceptance: 85.4%

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

$69,160

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $41,193 (18)

1yr: $40,436 (18)

Acceptance: 76.3%

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

$61,639

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $39,909 (14)

Acceptance: 93.6%

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

$53,450

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $35,060 (25)

1yr: $36,121 (20)

Acceptance: 78.1%

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA · Private

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public

SUNY Morrisville

Morrisville, NY · Public

Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ · Private

$34,057

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 96.7%

#15

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public

University of Minnesota-Crookston

Crookston, MN · Public

$26,739

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 58.4%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Natural Resources Management and Policy $35,215 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods $35,151 Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations $35,053 Geography and Cartography $34,918 Social Sciences, Other $34,908 Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution $34,823

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Agricultural Production Operations?

North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks #1 for Agricultural Production Operations with median graduate earnings of $83,779 within four years of graduating. There are 17 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn?

Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn an average of $55,617 within four years of graduating. This is 11% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $34,057 to $83,779 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Agricultural Production Operations program?

The average acceptance rate across Agricultural Production Operations programs is 78.0%. The most selective program is at Clemson University with a 38.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Agricultural Production Operations?

Private Agricultural Production Operations programs average $41,902 in early earnings vs $57,903 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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