Agricultural Engineering Colleges Under $20,000

The gap between most and least expensive Agricultural Engineering programs reaches nearly $11,000, with University of Florida charging just $6,351 while Cal Poly San Luis Obispo costs $15,624. This price difference reflects varying state funding models rather than program quality, as both schools maintain strong industry connections. Agricultural engineers find particularly strong job markets across the Sun Belt and California's Central Valley, where precision agriculture and sustainable farming technologies drive demand for graduates. Maryland leads in earnings at $73,164, while Florida graduates average $46,478, showing how regional agricultural economies influence starting salaries. The field combines traditional farming knowledge with modern technology, from drone-based crop monitoring to automated irrigation systems. Public universities dominate this list, with 14 of 15 schools receiving state funding that keeps costs manageable for residents. Graduation rates vary significantly, from Puerto Rico-Mayaguez at 47% to UC Berkeley at 93%, often reflecting different student populations and support systems rather than program strength.

Programs

$6,351 – $19,568

Net Price Range

$58,054

Avg. Program Earnings

71.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

30 Agricultural Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
2	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
3	North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, North Carolina	$10,980	$6,748	55.3%	56.4%
4	University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez, Puerto Rico	$12,684	$5,274	47.0%	54.4%
5	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
6	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
7	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
8	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
9	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
10	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	$14,714	$8,606	60.9%	84.5%
11	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
12	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$15,201	$16,004	84.9%	44.8%
13	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$15,590	$11,505	88.6%	44.6%
14	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624	$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
15	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, Florida	$15,847	$5,785	51.9%	32.9%
16	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
17	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, Oklahoma	$16,378	$10,234	65.9%	70.6%
18	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928	$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
19	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
20	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
21	University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky	$17,218	$13,212	69.9%	94.9%
22	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska	$17,424	$10,108	65.8%	78.6%
23	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$17,722	$12,594	51.2%	79.0%
24	Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas	$17,883	$10,942	70.5%	95.1%
25	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, New York	$17,980	$8,676	40.9%	84.0%
26	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
27	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$18,165	$10,497	75.5%	90.2%
28	South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota	$18,219	$9,299	59.6%	86.1%
29	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
30	Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon	$19,568	$13,494	70.6%	82.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the $26,686 earnings difference between Maryland and Florida graduates?

Regional agricultural markets drive this salary gap significantly. Maryland's proximity to federal agencies, biotech companies, and East Coast agribusiness creates higher-paying opportunities for agricultural engineers. Florida's larger agricultural sector focuses more on production farming, which typically offers lower starting salaries. Cost of living differences also play a role, as Maryland's higher expenses often correlate with increased compensation packages.

How do acceptance rates affect program accessibility in agricultural engineering?

Acceptance rates range from 8.57% at UCLA to 95.56% at BYU-Idaho, creating vastly different admission scenarios. Highly selective programs like UCLA and UC Berkeley attract top students but limit access, while schools like Washington State University accept 83.10% of applicants. North Carolina A&T accepts 56.39% of students while maintaining strong industry partnerships. This variation means students have options regardless of their academic profile.

Is there a correlation between net price and graduation rates in these programs?

Higher graduation rates don't necessarily correlate with higher costs in agricultural engineering. UC Berkeley costs $14,979 but achieves a 92.90% graduation rate, while University of Florida charges only $6,351 with a 91.50% rate. However, some lower-cost schools like Puerto Rico-Mayaguez show 47% graduation rates, suggesting that institutional support systems matter more than price. Student preparedness and financial stability often influence completion more than tuition levels.

Does geographic location significantly impact agricultural engineering career prospects?

Location strongly influences both program focus and career outcomes in agricultural engineering. California schools like Cal Poly and UCLA benefit from proximity to Silicon Valley agricultural technology companies and varied farming operations. Midwest programs like Purdue connect students to grain processing and equipment manufacturing industries. Southern schools focus more on sustainable farming and crop science, while programs in agricultural states often have stronger industry internship networks.

Where can students find the best value combination of low cost and strong outcomes?

University of Georgia offers strong value at $13,816 net cost with $64,791 average earnings and an 87.20% graduation rate. Purdue provides similar value at $13,945 with $63,997 earnings and 83.10% graduation rate. University of Florida delivers the lowest cost option at $6,351 while maintaining a 91.50% graduation rate, though earnings data isn't available. These schools combine reasonable costs with strong agricultural industry connections and research opportunities.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.