Agricultural Production Operations programs
CIP 0103 · Agriculture & Animal Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
36 institutions report graduate earnings for Agricultural Production Operations programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $46,843 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28× and 78% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 8 of the 37 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusND · Bachelor's | $83,779 n=95 | 94% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.26× | Above +104% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $71,868 n=36 | 86% 1yr | $13,250 | 0.18× | Above +92% | – |
| 3 | Northeast Community CollegeNE · Associate | $71,726 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +93% | – |
| 4 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $69,708 n=19 | 79% 5yr | $17,395 | 0.25× | Above +64% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Mississippi State UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $69,160 n=16 | 86% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.29× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Utah State UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $61,639 n=20 | 95% 1yr | – | – | Above +55% | – |
| 7 | Kirkwood Community CollegeIA · Associate | $61,118 n=40 | 79% 5yr | $9,530 | 0.16× | Above +59% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $58,236 n=33 | 81% 5yr | $10,999 | 0.19× | Above +51% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Ridgewater CollegeMN · UG cert | $56,311 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +41% | – |
| 10 | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical InstituteOH · Associate | $56,234 n=22 | 91% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.21× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Associate | $56,234 n=22 | 91% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.21× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $53,450 n=18 | 77% 5yr | $20,387 | 0.38× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | Auburn UniversityAL · Master's | $52,419 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -9% | – |
| 14 | Clemson UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $51,582 n=47 | 64% | $22,625 | 0.44× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Delaware Valley UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $49,746 n=38 | – | $26,500 | 0.53× | Above +32% | – |
| 16 | Mitchell Technical CollegeSD · Associate | $49,700 n=50 | 67% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.24× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's | $47,528 n=49 | 65% 5yr | $24,737 | 0.52× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 18 | Northeast Iowa Community CollegeIA · UG cert | $47,199 n=30 | 70% 1yr | $8,041 | 0.17× | Above +22% | – |
| 19 | University of KentuckyKY · Bachelor's | $46,843 n=58 | 81% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.42× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Associate | $46,669 n=62 | 88% 5yr | $11,000 | 0.24× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Northeastern Junior CollegeCO · UG cert | $46,609 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +12% | – |
| 22 | Northeastern Junior CollegeCO · Associate | $44,537 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +7% | – |
| 23 | Ellsworth Community CollegeIA · Associate | $43,863 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +14% | – |
| 24 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Associate | $43,361 n=44 | 70% 1yr | $12,000 | 0.28× | Above +26% | – |
| 25 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstMA · Bachelor's | $42,520 n=31 | 64% 5yr | $19,979 | 0.47× | Below -2% | – |
| 26 | Piedmont Technical CollegeSC · Associate | $40,375 n=19 | – | – | – | Above +17% | – |
| 27 | Southern Maine Community CollegeME · Associate | $40,025 n=22 | – | – | – | Above +10% | Below 1/2 |
| 28 | Nebraska College of Technical AgricultureNE · Associate | $39,559 n=45 | 67% 5yr | $11,314 | 0.29× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 29 | University of Nebraska-LincolnNE · Associate | $39,559 n=45 | 67% 5yr | $11,314 | 0.29× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | SUNY MorrisvilleNY · Bachelor's | $38,528 n=52 | 77% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.70× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 31 | Niagara County Community CollegeNY · Associate | $35,518 n=33 | 61% 5yr | $10,300 | 0.29× | Below -7% | Below 2/2 |
| 32 | Michigan State UniversityMI · UG cert | $35,265 n=36 | 72% 1yr | $7,500 | 0.21× | Above +1% | – |
| 33 | Vermont State UniversityVT · Associate | $34,308 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -12% | – |
| 34 | Centenary UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $34,057 n=16 | 96% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.76× | Below -15% | Below 1/2 |
| 35 | Northcentral Technical CollegeWI · Associate | $33,350 n=26 | – | $7,250 | 0.22× | Below -14% | – |
| 36 | Wilkes Community CollegeNC · Associate | $31,127 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -9% | – |
| 37 | University of Puerto Rico-UtuadoPR · Associate | $13,731 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -16% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $47,199 | 3 |
| Nebraska | $39,559 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Agricultural Production Operations programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Agricultural Production Operations programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Agricultural Production Operations programs in this dataset are North Dakota State University-Main Campus ($83,779), Purdue University-Main Campus ($71,868), Northeast Community College ($71,726). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Agricultural Production Operations programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 8 of the 37 Agricultural Production Operations programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.