1. Washington State University
Washington State University has the leading sustainable agriculture degree program in the country. It offers several agriculture-related degrees, from Fermentation Science to Fruit and Vegetable Management. Students will have an opportunity to learn about sustainable practices no matter which degree they choose.
- Tuition per year: $5,364 in-state; $12,836 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 91%
2. University of Florida
The University of Florida has long been known for its excellent agriculture program. All of its agriculture degrees prioritize sustainable agriculture. Degrees include Agricultural Operations Management, Agricultural Education and Communication, and more.
- Tuition per year: $6,381 in-state; $28,659 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 87%
3. California State University – Chico
California State University – Chico, commonly known as Chico State, offers the top agriculture program in the state. Relevant degree programs include Agricultural Business, Plant and Soil Science, and Animal Science. Chico State has its own working farm for students to gain hands-on experience, and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems is helping students and growers alike understand and adopt healthy soil practices that improve farm and ranch sustainability and combat climate change.
- Tuition per year: $7,806 in-state; $19,686 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 68%
4. North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University has one of the leading sustainable agriculture programs in the South. It offers degrees like Applied Ecology and Agricultural and Human Sciences. Students can complete some of their classes online, though they will have to take classes on-campus.
- Tuition per year: $9,101 in-state; $29,220 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 77%
5. California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, commonly called Cal Poly, is a STEM-focused institution in San Luis Obispo. It is one of the leading universities in the state for sustainable agriculture degree programs. The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences offers degrees in sustainable agriculture, food systems, and the environmental and life sciences. Its courses bring learning into the field, the farm and the forest in order to meet the diverse agricultural and environmental needs of California and the global society. Relevant degrees include environmental management and protection, agricultural and environmental plant sciences and wine and viticulture.
- Tuition per year: $10,194 in-state; $28,104 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 82%
6. Iowa State University
Iowa State University is located in a state known for farming, so it’s no surprise that it has a leading agriculture program. Students gain sustainable agriculture experience working on teaching farms operated by departments supporting degrees such as Animal Science, Horticulture, Agronomy and Agricultural Studies.
- Tuition per year: $9,320 in-state; $24,508 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 75%
7. Utah State University
The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Utah State University prides itself in providing hands-on learning experiences for their students. USU has the second oldest undergraduate research program in the nation, and students can start working in a lab their freshman year. Students are also given opportunities to work closely with research faculty. More than 500 scholarships totaling over $750,000 are awarded to students in the college each year.
USU College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences offers more than 75 degrees and certificates between six departments. These departments are:
- Animal, Dairy, & Veterinary Sciences
- Applied Economics
- Applied Sciences, Technology, & Education
- Aviation & Technical Education
- Landscape Architecture & Environmental planning
- Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Utah State University’s main campus is located within minutes from two mountain ranges. It’s within a half-day drive of six national parks, including Yellowstone and Arches. USU provides big-school opportunities with a small-school feel, and all for a great value.
- Tuition per year: $7,846 in-state; $22,804 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 59%
8. New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University boasts a leading agriculture program. Degrees are offered at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. A sampling of these degrees includes Plant & Environment Sciences and Agriculture.
- Tuition per year: $7,875 in-state; $23,292 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 44%
9. University of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin has the top agriculture program in the state. Wisconsin is known for dairy farming, and UW’s Dairy Science program is one of the best in the country. Wisconsin also offers Agronomy and several other related programs.
- Tuition per year: $10,725 in-state; $37,785 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 85%
10. Purdue University
Purdue University has an innovative agriculture program that draws students from around the world. It has programs in several areas, from Agricultural Economics to Animal Science. Degrees are offered at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
- Tuition per year: $9,992 in-state; $28,794 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 76%
11. University of Maryland
The University of Maryland is a leader in many STEM areas, including agriculture. It has one of the oldest agriculture programs in the country, as it started in 1865. Notable programs include Nutrition & Food Science and Plant Science.
- Tuition per year: $10,779 in-state; $36,891 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 85%
12. Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University has the top agriculture program in the state. It offers a wide range of degree programs in this area, including Interdisciplinary Agriculture and Agribusiness. Texas Tech’s agriculture department has partnerships with Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, and Kansas State.
- Tuition per year: $15,616 in-state; $28,716 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 93%
13. Rutgers University
Rutgers University is located in New Jersey, which is not a state that many people associate with agriculture. However, Rutgers offers one of the most unique and innovative agricultural programs in the country. It offers rare majors like Farmhouse Management.
- Tuition per year: $11,619 in-state; $27,560 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 80%
14. North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University boasts the top agriculture program in the region. The relevant programs at NDSU range from Agribusiness to Biotechnology. NDSU is known for its Beef Cattle Research Complex.
- Tuition per year: $9,754 in-state; $13,892 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 55%
15. Auburn University
Auburn University has a leading agriculture program. The degrees within this program include Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology as well as Animal Science and more. Auburn even offers a Poultry Science program.
- Tuition per year: $11,492 in-state; $31,124 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 75%
If you’re looking for the best sustainable agriculture degree programs, our site can help you find the right program based on your criteria.
16. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is home to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which offers one of the largest selections of agriculture degrees in the world. The College brings together 300 faculty experts and over 7,000 students across 15 departments, who represent a community of scholars working to provide agricultural solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in human, economic and environmental health.
- Tuition per year: $13,012 in-state; $40,896 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 80%
17. Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University has a world-class agriculture program. This program has been up and running at LSU for over 100 years. Undergraduate majors include natural resource ecology and management and animal sciences. A full list of their majors can be found here: https://lsu.edu/agriculture/degree_programs/Degrees.php.
- Tuition per year: $11,962 in-state; $28,639 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 70%
18. Colorado State University
Colorado State University offers a cutting-edge agriculture program. Available undergraduate majors include Agricultural Business and Horticulture. Students can also study more technical programs like Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.
- Tuition per year: $11,901 in-state; $30,622 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 67%
19. Virginia Polytechnic University
Virginia Polytechnic University, better known as Virginia Tech, has one of the most advanced agriculture programs in the country. Relevant majors include Dairy Science and Biological Systems Engineering. Graduate degrees are also offered online and on-campus.
- Tuition per year: $13,691 in-state; $32,835 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 84%
20. University of California – Davis
The University of California – Davis is one of many California-based institutions with a strong agricultural program. UC Davis offers majors in various areas, including Land, Air, and Water Resources and Entomology and Nematology. Both undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in the agricultural field.
- Tuition per year: $14,495 in-state; $44,249 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 85%
21. University of Delaware
The University of Delaware has several highly ranked STEM programs, including its agriculture program. Majors include Animal Science and Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management. Delaware offers students the opportunity to learn on a working farm.
- Tuition per year: $14,280 in-state; $35,710 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 81%
22. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the leading public universities in the country. It is especially known for its agriculture program, which includes majors like Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Animal Science. Illinois also offers a rare Crop Science program.
- Tuition per year: $15,122 in-state; $32,264 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 85%
23. University of California – Riverside
The University of California – Riverside (better known as UC Riverside) may be the final California-based program on our list, but it still offers an excellent education in agriculture. UC Riverside’s programs include Soil Science and Environmental Chemistry. Plant Biology is another popular agriculture program.
- Tuition per year: $13,853 in-state; $43,607 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 73%
24. Michigan State University
Michigan State University is one of the top public universities in the country for STEM programs, so it’s hardly a shocker that its agriculture program is highly ranked. The College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at MSU has over 5,200 acres at its disposal. MSU offers unique degree programs like Breeding and Genetics that students may not be able to find elsewhere.
- Tuition per year: $14,460 in-state; $39,766 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 78%
25. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers the top agriculture program in the state. The programs at Arizona focus on sustainable agriculture. Undergraduate majors include Sustainability and Crop Efficiency Development.
- Tuition per year: $12,691 in-state; $36,718 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 60%
26. University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota has one of the most advanced agriculture programs in the Midwest. Its College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences offers 14 graduate and 13 undergraduate degrees. Some of the more popular majors include Animal Science and Agricultural Education.
- Tuition per year: $15,027 in-state; $33,325 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 78%
27. Clemson University
Clemson University is a leader in agricultural education. The degree programs available in its agricultural department include Animal Science and Agribusiness. Clemson even offers several doctoral programs in the field.
- Tuition per year: $15,558 in-state; $38,550 non-resdient
- Graduation rate: 81%
28. University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst consistently ranks Top 5 for Agricultural Science Universities in the World, and #1 in the US (U.S. News & World Report, 2021). It is the premier destination for Sustainable Food & Farming students, hosts the largest fully online bachelor degree in Sustainable Agriculture, and offers many scholarships.
- Tuition per year: $16,389 in-state; $35,710 non-resident
- Graduation rate: 76%
29. Pennsylvania State University
Agriculture is a moving target. Demand for products and services, and the expertise needed to get it all done, changes daily. The Agricultural Science major at PennSate provides a hands-on, science and business look at the full spectrum of agriculture, so you have an incredible range of knowledge to draw on. As trends shift, you’ll have the background to adjust.
- Undergraduate Tuition+Fees (per year): $18,450
- Graduation rate: 73%
30. Cornell University
Cornell University is the only Ivy League institution on our list. Its prestigious agriculture program offers 22 different majors. Some of the more popular ones include Agribusiness Management and Animal Science.
- Tuition per year: $57,222
- Graduation rate: 94%
Our Ranking Methodology
Our rankings are created with the help of our formula, which comes up with a rating for each school. Our formula takes the school’s yearly tuition rate and graduation rate into account. The schools that have differing tuition rates for resident students and non-resident students were rated using only their resident tuition rate. Our formula takes the school’s yearly tuition rate and adds a multiplier that is equivalent to the percentage of students who matriculated but did not end up graduating. The resulting rating is used to rank the school, with lower ratings resulting in better rankings. Here’s how our formula comes up with this rating: University #1 has a yearly tuition rate of $15,000 and a graduation rate of 80%. Its rating would be $18,000 (15,000 x 120%).
Students who are looking for the top sustainable agriculture degree programs can find what they’re looking for on our site.
Check out our agriculture degree page.
Representatives of the institutions on this list can contact us if they need to make any corrections or ask any questions.
