Agricultural Production Operations at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture graduates start behind the national curve but end up ahead of where they began. First-year earnings of $24,427 rank in just the 10th percentile nationally for agricultural production programs, roughly $9,500 below the national median. However, earnings jump 33% to $32,430 by year four—narrowing that gap considerably and suggesting graduates build valuable skills once in the field.

The modest $11,629 in median debt makes this low initial earning power more manageable than it appears. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, giving them breathing room that many associate degree holders lack. Within Nebraska's small pool of agricultural production programs, this actually performs at the median level, matching even University of Nebraska-Lincoln's outcomes for this specific credential.

For families committed to Nebraska agriculture, this represents a practical pathway with controlled financial risk. The debt burden won't overwhelm graduates during those lean early years, and the strong earnings trajectory suggests the credential has real labor market value. Just understand you're making a long-term bet on agricultural career growth rather than buying immediate earning power out of the gate.