Agricultural Production Operations at Northcentral Technical College

Northcentral Technical College's agricultural production program lands in the middle of Wisconsin's offerings but falls short of national standards, with graduates earning $28,132 their first year—about $6,000 below the national median. The program does carry one of the lowest debt loads you'll find anywhere in this field (95th percentile nationally), which partially offsets the earnings gap. That $9,000 debt figure translates to a manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly four months' salary.

The earnings picture requires some context: Wisconsin's agricultural economy differs from national patterns, and this program sits at the 60th percentile among the state's five ag production programs. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. The real concern is whether $28,000 adequately compensates for the physical demands and irregular hours typical in agricultural operations work.

For families committed to keeping their student in Wisconsin agriculture, the low debt provides breathing room while a graduate gains experience and potentially moves into farm management or ownership. But parents should verify current placement rates and talk to recent graduates about realistic salary trajectories, especially since the sample size makes these numbers less reliable than programs with hundreds of graduates.