UnisHub University Compass

Agribusiness Operations: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Agribusiness Operations equips students with the strategic and operational expertise needed to lead complex agricultural enterprises in a globalized, corporate environment. This interdisciplinary program integrates core agricultural science with advanced business principles to prepare professionals for leadership roles across the food and fiber supply chain.

  • Agricultural Systems Management: Explores the integration of crop and livestock production with modern technological solutions to optimize efficiency and sustainability.
  • Business and Financial Strategy: Focuses on budgeting, cost analysis, investment planning, and financial decision-making tailored to agricultural enterprises.
  • Marketing and Supply Chain Dynamics: Examines market trends, consumer behavior, distribution networks, and branding strategies for agricultural products and services.
  • Human Resource Leadership: Develops skills in workforce planning, employee development, labor relations, and organizational culture within agribusiness settings.
  • Operational Planning and Risk Management: Teaches methods for long-term strategic planning, resource allocation, and identifying and mitigating operational and environmental risks.
  • Agricultural Specialization: Provides in-depth knowledge in specific sectors such as horticulture, animal science, agroecology, or precision farming, enabling focused expertise within broader operations.

Agribusiness Operations Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

3,573
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
174
Universities & Colleges
2
Career Pathways

Agribusiness Operations Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Agribusiness Operations degrees, including Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers and Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. 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 14,610 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

Salary Comparison

Agribusiness Operations Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $58,110 in Vermont to $107,310 in Michigan—a 85% difference. The highest-paying states include Michigan, Maryland, and Georgia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 14,610 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 Agribusiness Operations by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Agribusiness Operations 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 Agribusiness Operations is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (317 graduates), California State University, Fresno (150 graduates), Bakersfield College (BC) (142 graduates), California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo (118 graduates), and North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (111 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,346 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 Admissions Location Control Website
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
Master's
317 SAT: 1140-1380
ACT: 25-31
College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
150 N/A Fresno, California Public fresnostate.edu
Bakersfield College (BC)
Associate's
142 N/A Bakersfield, California Public bakersfieldcollege.edu
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
Bachelor's
118 N/A San Luis Obispo, California Public calpoly.edu
North Carolina State University (NC State)
Bachelor's
111 SAT: 1300-1460
ACT: 28-32
Raleigh, North Carolina Public ncsu.edu
Iowa State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
109 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 21-28
Ames, Iowa Public iastate.edu
The University of Tennessee
Bachelor's
105 SAT: 1000-1210
ACT: 19-24
Martin, Tennessee Public utm.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
84 SAT: 1220-1400
ACT: 27-32
University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
University of Arkansas (U of A)
Bachelor's
80 SAT: 1050-1220
ACT: 21-28
Fayetteville, Arkansas Public uark.edu
Reedley College
Associate's
Other Award
75 N/A Reedley, California Public reedleycollege.edu
Merced College
Associate's
Other Award
74 N/A Merced, California Public mccd.edu
Tarleton State University (TSU)
Bachelor's
68 SAT: 960-1150
ACT: 19-24
Stephenville, Texas Public tarleton.edu
Beaufort County Community College (BCCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
64 N/A Washington, North Carolina Public beaufortccc.edu
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO)
Bachelor's
51 SAT: 850-1030
ACT: 16-21
Cape Girardeau, Missouri Public semo.edu
California State University
Bachelor's
49 N/A Chico, California Public csuchico.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)
Bachelor's
Master's
49 SAT: 1160-1390
ACT: 25-32
Athens, Georgia Public uga.edu
Shasta College
Associate's
45 N/A Redding, California Public shastacollege.edu
West Texas A & M University (WTAMU)
Bachelor's
45 SAT: 960-1160
ACT: 18-24
Canyon, Texas Public wtamu.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)
Bachelor's
40 SAT: 1030-1180
ACT: 19-25
Jonesboro, Arkansas Public astate.edu
Mississippi State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
39 SAT: 1110-1410
ACT: 21-29
Mississippi State, Mississippi Public msstate.edu
Northwest Missouri State University
Bachelor's
39 SAT: 970-1200
ACT: 18-23
Maryville, Missouri Public nwmissouri.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
39 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28
Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
Coalinga College
Associate's
Other Award
38 N/A Coalinga, California Public westhillscollege.com
Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Bachelor's
38 SAT: 940-1140
ACT: 19-25
Huntsville, Texas Public shsu.edu
Hartnell College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
37 N/A Salinas, California Public hartnell.edu
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Associate's
Bachelor's
37 ACT: 21-27 Platteville, Wisconsin Public uwplatt.edu
Iowa Central Community College
Associate's
Other Award
36 N/A Fort Dodge, Iowa Public iowacentral.edu
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC)
Associate's
Other Award
36 N/A Calmar, Iowa Public nicc.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)
Bachelor's
36 N/A Laramie, Wyoming Public uwyo.edu
Arkansas Tech University (ATU)
Bachelor's
35 SAT: 940-1150
ACT: 17-24
Russellville, Arkansas Public atu.edu
Iowa Western Community College (IWCC)
Associate's
Other Award
35 N/A Council Bluffs, Iowa Public iwcc.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
35 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
Colorado State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
33 N/A Fort Collins, Colorado Public colostate.edu
University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF)
Bachelor's
32 ACT: 19-25 River Falls, Wisconsin Public uwrf.edu
University of Arkansas (UAM)
Associate's
Bachelor's
29 N/A Monticello, Arkansas Public uamont.edu
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
Bachelor's
29 SAT: 1040-1300
ACT: 19-26
Brookings, South Dakota Public sdstate.edu
Modesto Junior College (MJC)
Associate's
28 N/A Modesto, California Public mjc.edu
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
28 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 18-24
Commerce, Texas Public tamuc.edu
Isothermal Community College (ICC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
26 N/A Spindale, North Carolina Public isothermal.edu
Allan Hancock College
Associate's
Other Award
25 N/A Santa Maria, California Public hancockcollege.edu
Arkansas State University (ASU-Beebe)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
24 N/A Beebe, Arkansas Public asub.edu
Butte College
Associate's
Other Award
24 N/A Oroville, California Public butte.edu
Ridgewater College
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
24 N/A Willmar, Minnesota Public ridgewater.edu
Wilkes Community College (WCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
24 N/A Wilkesboro, North Carolina Public wilkescc.edu
Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU)
Bachelor's
24 N/A Goodwell, Oklahoma Public opsu.edu
Mitchell Community College
Associate's
Other Award
23 N/A Statesville, North Carolina Public mitchellcc.edu
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
23 SAT: 980-1160 Kingsville, Texas Public tamuk.edu
Woodland Community College (WCC)
Associate's
Other Award
22 N/A Woodland, California Public wcc.yccd.edu
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Bachelor's
21 SAT: 1000-1230
ACT: 19-26
Murfreesboro, Tennessee Public mtsu.edu
Feather River Community College District
Associate's
20 N/A Quincy, California Public frc.edu
State Fair Community College (SFCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
20 N/A Sedalia, Missouri Public sfccmo.edu
Southern Arkansas University (SAU)
Associate's
19 SAT: 920-1180
ACT: 17-23
Magnolia, Arkansas Public saumag.edu
Missouri State University
Bachelor's
19 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 19-25
Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU)
Bachelor's
18 SAT: 868-1090
ACT: 16-22
Alva, Oklahoma Public nwosu.edu
Mitchell Technical College (Mitchell Tech)
Associate's
18 N/A Mitchell, South Dakota Public mitchelltech.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
18 SAT: 1100-1340
ACT: 18-30
University Park, Pennsylvania Public worldcampus.psu.edu
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
Bachelor's
17 SAT: 885-1110
ACT: 17-24
Las Cruces, New Mexico Public nmsu.edu
Texas State University (TXST)
Bachelor's
17 SAT: 980-1190
ACT: 19-26
San Marcos, Texas Public txst.edu
California State Polytechnic University (CPP)
Bachelor's
16 N/A Pomona, California Public cpp.edu
Northeast Community College
Associate's
16 N/A Norfolk, Nebraska Public northeast.edu
Angelo State University (ASU)
Bachelor's
16 SAT: 920-1140
ACT: 17-24
San Angelo, Texas Public angelo.edu
University of Idaho (U of I)
Bachelor's
15 SAT: 950-1200
ACT: 20-29
Moscow, Idaho Public uidaho.edu
Hinds Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
15 N/A Raymond, Mississippi Public hindscc.edu
Randolph Community College (RCC)
Associate's
Other Award
15 N/A Asheboro, North Carolina Public randolph.edu
College of the Sequoias (COS)
Associate's
Other Award
14 N/A Visalia, California Public cos.edu
Sierra College
Associate's
Other Award
14 N/A Rocklin, California Public sierracollege.edu
Wayne Community College (WCC)
Associate's
Other Award
14 N/A Goldsboro, North Carolina Public waynecc.edu
Ogeechee Technical College (OTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
14 N/A Statesboro, Georgia Public ogeecheetech.edu
California State University (CSUB)
Bachelor's
13 N/A Bakersfield, California Public csub.edu
Buena Vista University (BVU)
Bachelor's
13 ACT: 18-25 Storm Lake, Iowa Private bvu.edu
Butler Community College
Associate's
13 N/A El Dorado, Kansas Public butlercc.edu
Southeastern Community College (SCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
13 N/A Whiteville, North Carolina Public sccnc.edu
Edison State Community College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
13 N/A Piqua, Ohio Public edisonohio.edu
Snow College
Associate's
13 N/A Ephraim, Utah Public snow.edu
Cuesta College
Associate's
12 N/A San Luis Obispo, California Public cuesta.edu
William Rainey Harper College
Other Award
12 N/A Palatine, Illinois Public harpercollege.edu
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill)
Associate's
12 SAT: 990-1170 Cobleskill, New York Public cobleskill.edu
Sampson Community College (SCC)
Associate's
Other Award
12 N/A Clinton, North Carolina Public sampsoncc.edu
North Dakota State University (NDSU)
Bachelor's
12 ACT: 19-24 Fargo, North Dakota Public ndsu.edu
Delaware Valley University (DelVal)
Bachelor's
Master's
12 SAT: 1070-1270
ACT: 24-27
Doylestown, Pennsylvania Private delval.edu
Northwest College (NWC)
Associate's
12 N/A Powell, Wyoming Public nwc.edu
South Central College (SCC)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
11 N/A North Mankato, Minnesota Public southcentral.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Bachelor's
Other Award
11 N/A Crookston, Minnesota Public crk.umn.edu
Farmingdale State College (FSC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
11 SAT: 1020-1200
ACT: 19-27
Farmingdale, New York Public farmingdale.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRM)
Bachelor's
11 N/A Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Public uprm.edu
Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
10 N/A Senatobia, Mississippi Public northwestms.edu
Bladen Community College (BCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
10 N/A Dublin, North Carolina Public bladencc.edu
Western Technical College (WTC)
Associate's
10 N/A La Crosse, Wisconsin Public westerntc.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)
Associate's
10 N/A San German, Puerto Rico Private sg.inter.edu
Porterville College
Associate's
9 N/A Porterville, California Public portervillecollege.edu
SUNY Morrisville (SUNY Morrisville)
Associate's
9 N/A Morrisville, New York Public morrisville.edu
Edgecombe Community College (ECC)
Other Award
9 N/A Tarboro, North Carolina Public edgecombe.edu
Lakeshore Technical College (LTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
9 N/A Cleveland, Wisconsin Public gotoltc.edu
Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU)
Master's
9 N/A Orlando, Florida Private agmu.edu
Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC)
Other Award
8 N/A Oglesby, Illinois Public ivcc.edu
Dordt University
Bachelor's
8 SAT: 1030-1230
ACT: 21-27
Sioux Center, Iowa Private dordt.edu
Stanly Community College (SCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
8 N/A Albemarle, North Carolina Public stanly.edu
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
Bachelor's
7 SAT: 1030-1150
ACT: 20-24
Tallahassee, Florida Public famu.edu
SUNY College of Technology (Alfred State)
Associate's
7 SAT: 970-1170
ACT: 16-23
Alfred, New York Public alfredstate.edu
James Sprunt Community College (JSCC)
Associate's
Other Award
7 N/A Kenansville, North Carolina Public jamessprunt.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Agribusiness Operations programs

How much can I earn with a Agribusiness Operations degree?

Salaries for Agribusiness Operations 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 Michigan average $107,310 compared to $58,110 in Vermont. Approximately 14,610 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 Agribusiness Operations programs?

Currently 174 accredited institutions offer Agribusiness Operations degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (317 graduates), California State University, Fresno (150 graduates), and Bakersfield College (BC) (142 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 Agribusiness Operations growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,809 in 2010 to 3,573 in 2023-24. This represents a 98% 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 Agribusiness Operations degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 14,610 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.

Related Agriculture Programs

Explore similar degree programs within the Agriculture field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.

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