Agricultural Production Operations at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State's Agricultural Production Operations bachelor's delivers extraordinary returns for a field often associated with modest earnings. At $62,869 in first-year income, graduates earn 65% more than the national median for this program—placing NDSU in the 95th percentile nationally. With debt of just $23,250, the ratio of 0.37 means graduates can pay off their loans in less than five months of gross income, a remarkably strong position.

What makes this particularly compelling is the trajectory: earnings climb to nearly $68,000 by year four, suggesting graduates move quickly into management roles or expand their own operations. This pattern aligns with North Dakota's robust agricultural economy, where precision agriculture technology and large-scale farm management create opportunities that simply don't exist in many states. The 96% admission rate means access is straightforward, though the moderate sample size suggests this remains a focused program rather than a mass-production degree mill.

For families considering agricultural careers, this represents one of the best educational investments in the field nationwide. The combination of immediate earning power, manageable debt, and real growth potential makes this program a standout—especially for students already connected to North Dakota's agricultural sector or willing to build their careers there.