Agricultural Business and Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Agricultural Business and Management is a dynamic field that integrates core business strategies with the unique demands of agricultural enterprises. This program equips students with the analytical and leadership skills needed to navigate complex food systems, optimize resource use, and drive sustainable growth in agribusiness contexts.
- Agribusiness Operations: Explores the day-to-day management of farming, processing, and distribution systems, emphasizing efficiency, scalability, and operational planning across supply chains.
- Food and Agricultural Economics: Analyzes market dynamics, pricing models, trade policies, and economic trends influencing global food production and consumption.
- Sustainable Resource Management: Focuses on responsible use of land, water, and energy within agricultural systems to balance productivity with environmental stewardship.
- Supply Chain Logistics: Examines the flow of goods from farm to consumer, including transportation, inventory control, and risk mitigation in agricultural distribution networks.
- Financial Management in Agriculture: Covers budgeting, investment analysis, credit systems, and financial planning tailored to the cyclical and risk-prone nature of farming and agribusiness.
- Marketing and Consumer Behavior: Investigates strategies for promoting agricultural products, understanding consumer preferences, and building brand equity in competitive markets.
Agricultural Business and Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Agricultural Business and Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Agricultural Business and Management degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 44,140 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers 11-9013 | $87,980 | $51,700 - $156,530 | 5,910 | $42.30 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1041 | $86,350 | $49,080 - $160,870 | 8,700 | N/A |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers 45-1011 | $59,330 | $39,610 - $90,840 | 29,530 | $28.53 |
Agricultural Business and Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,140 in Arkansas to $103,760 in North Dakota—a 95% difference. The highest-paying states include North Dakota, Maryland, and Michigan. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 44,140 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Agricultural Business and Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Agricultural Business and Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Agricultural Business and Management is found at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Main Campus (167 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (98 graduates), Lake Area Technical College (LATC) (87 graduates), Central Community College (CCC) (83 graduates), and Kansas State University (K‑State) (69 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,145 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
167 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Lake Area Technical College (LATC) |
Associate's
|
87 | Watertown, South Dakota | Public | lakeareatech.edu |
| Central Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
83 | Grand Island, Nebraska | Public | cccneb.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
69 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Tifton, Georgia | Public | abac.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
62 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
59 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Southeast Community College Area (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
53 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | southeast.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Wilmington College |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Wilmington, Ohio | Private | wilmington.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | saumag.edu |
| North Central Missouri College (NCMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Trenton, Missouri | Public | ncmissouri.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Blinn College District |
Associate's
|
38 | Brenham, Texas | Public | blinn.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) |
Associate's
|
32 | Wahpeton, North Dakota | Public | ndscs.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
31 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Associate's
Postbac Cert.
|
31 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Otero College |
Other Award
|
26 | La Junta, Colorado | Public | otero.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
26 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Crowder College |
Associate's
|
25 | Neosho, Missouri | Public | crowder.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (OHC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| Alcorn State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Alcorn State, Mississippi | Public | alcorn.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| College of Central Florida (CF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Ocala, Florida | Public | cf.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
20 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| Kaskaskia College (KC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
19 | Centralia, Illinois | Public | kaskaskia.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Illinois College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Jacksonville, Illinois | Private | ic.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) |
Associate's
|
17 | Mount Pleasant, Texas | Public | ntcc.edu |
| Morgan Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Fort Morgan, Colorado | Public | morgancc.edu |
| Black Hawk College (BHC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Moline, Illinois | Public | bhc.edu |
| County College of Morris (CCM) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Randolph, New Jersey | Public | ccm.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| John Wood Community College (JWCC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Quincy, Illinois | Public | jwcc.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| SUNY Morrisville (SUNY Morrisville) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Morrisville, New York | Public | morrisville.edu |
| Potomac State College of West Virginia University (WVU) |
Associate's
|
13 | Keyser, West Virginia | Public | potomacstatecollege.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| American International College (AIC) |
Master's
|
12 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | aic.edu |
| Lake Region State College (LRSC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Devils Lake, North Dakota | Public | lrsc.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
12 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| Northeastern Junior College (NJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Sterling, Colorado | Public | njc.edu |
| College of Southern Idaho (CSI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Twin Falls, Idaho | Public | csi.edu |
| Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) |
Associate's
|
11 | Curtis, Nebraska | Public | ncta.unl.edu |
| Connors State College (CSC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Warner, Oklahoma | Public | connorsstate.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Other Award
|
11 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Other Award
|
10 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Rend Lake College (RLC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Ina, Illinois | Public | rlc.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
9 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Highland Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Freeport, Illinois | Public | highland.edu |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Public | blueridgectc.edu |
| Doane University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Crete, Nebraska | Private | doane.edu |
| University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
7 | Lima, Ohio | Private | unoh.edu |
| Laramie County Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Public | lccc.wy.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Delaware Technical Community College |
Associate's
|
6 | Dover, Delaware | Public | dtcc.edu |
| Spoon River College (SRC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Canton, Illinois | Public | src.edu |
| Missouri Valley College (MVC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Marshall, Missouri | Private | moval.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| Stautzenberger College |
Associate's
|
6 | Maumee, Ohio | Private | sctoday.edu |
| Trinidad State College (TSC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Trinidad, Colorado | Public | trinidadstate.edu |
| Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Oglesby, Illinois | Public | ivcc.edu |
| Parkland College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | parkland.edu |
| Itawamba Community College (ICC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Fulton, Mississippi | Public | iccms.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (Alfred State) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Alfred, New York | Public | alfredstate.edu |
| Terra State Community College |
Associate's
|
5 | Fremont, Ohio | Public | terra.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
|
5 | Martin, Tennessee | Public | utm.edu |
| Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Cleveland, Wisconsin | Public | gotoltc.edu |
| Florida Southern College (FSC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | flsouthern.edu |
| Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Albany, Oregon | Public | linnbenton.edu |
| Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Walla Walla, Washington | Public | wwcc.edu |
| Yakima Valley College (YVC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Yakima, Washington | Public | yvcc.edu |
| Central Wyoming College (CWC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Riverton, Wyoming | Public | cwc.edu |
| Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD) |
Associate's
|
4 | Sheridan, Wyoming | Public | sheridan.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College (UACCB) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Batesville, Arkansas | Public | uaccb.edu |
| Ozarka College |
Other Award
|
3 | Melbourne, Arkansas | Public | ozarka.edu |
| Jackson College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Jackson, Michigan | Public | jccmi.edu |
| Rowan College of South Jersey |
Associate's
|
3 | Vineland, New Jersey | Public | rcsj.edu |
| SUNY Adirondack |
Associate's
|
3 | Queensbury, New York | Public | sunyacc.edu |
| Dakota College (DCB) |
Associate's
|
3 | Bottineau, North Dakota | Public | dakotacollege.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
3 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Ontario, Oregon | Public | tvcc.cc |
| McLennan Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Waco, Texas | Public | mclennan.edu |
| Heartland Community College (HCC ) |
Other Award
|
3 | Normal, Illinois | Public | heartland.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Agricultural Business and Management programs
How much can I earn with a Agricultural Business and Management degree?
Salaries for Agricultural Business and Management graduates vary by role and location. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers earn a median of $87,980 annually, while Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $86,350. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in North Dakota average $103,760 compared to $53,140 in Arkansas. Approximately 44,140 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Agricultural Business and Management programs?
Currently 131 accredited institutions offer Agricultural Business and Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Oklahoma State University (OSU), Main Campus (167 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (98 graduates), and Lake Area Technical College (LATC) (87 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Agricultural Business and Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,531 in 2010 to a peak of 2,193 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,188 in 2023-24. This represents a 43% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Agricultural Business and Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, and First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers. Related occupations employ approximately 44,140 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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