Agricultural Production Operations at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute

Ohio State ATI's agricultural production program demonstrates something rare in higher education: genuinely manageable debt paired with steady income growth. With just $12,000 in typical student debt—putting it in the 5th percentile nationally—graduates start at nearly $34,000 and see earnings climb 15% to $39,000 within four years. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly four months of gross income, a financial position most college programs can't match.

Among Ohio's five agricultural production programs, this one performs solidly, ranking at the 60th percentile for earnings. While starting salaries land right at the national median, the real advantage here is the debt load. Many comparable programs saddle students with similar debt for identical earnings outcomes—Ohio State ATI delivers the education without the financial burden. The 15% earnings growth also suggests graduates are developing skills that employers increasingly value.

The major caveat: fewer than 30 students were tracked for this data, so individual outcomes could vary more than these numbers suggest. That said, for families considering agricultural careers in Ohio, this program offers a clear path to stable employment without the debt trap that plagues many fields. The combination of name recognition from Ohio State, practical technical training, and minimal borrowing makes this a straightforward choice for students serious about production agriculture.