Education
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $101,420
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsAgricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
Agricultural Production Operations
CIP01.03
187 colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 187
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $52,516
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,250
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 187
- Associate's
- 173
- Bachelor's
- 63
- Master's
- 25
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 2
- Doctoral
- 10
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 16
What it covers
About Agricultural Production Operations
A program that focuses on the general planning, economics, and use of facilities, natural resources, equipment, labor, and capital to produce plant and animal products, and that may prepare individuals for work in farming, ranching, and agribusiness.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 01.03.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 01.03.
- Agricultural Production Operations, General
- Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
- Aquaculture
- Crop Production
- Dairy Husbandry and Production
- Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- Viticulture and Enology
- Apiculture
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 187 | $46,9044 yrs after · 4 colleges | $18,6251 college |
| Associate's | 173 | $43,3614 yrs after · 17 colleges | $12,0007 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 63 | $52,5164 yrs after · 14 colleges | $21,25012 colleges |
| Master's | 25 | $52,4194 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 10 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 16 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Fargo, ND · Public · 35 graduates
$83,779
debt $23,246
- 2
West Lafayette, IN · Public · 25 graduates
$71,868
debt not reported
- 3
Pullman, WA · Public · 19 graduates
$69,708
debt not reported
- 4
Mississippi State, MS · Public · 19 graduates
$69,160
debt $20,375
- 5
Logan, UT · Public · 10 graduates
$61,639
debt not reported
- 6
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · 29 graduates
$58,236
debt $10,265
- 7
Richmond, KY · Public · 35 graduates
$53,450
debt $19,000
- 8
Clemson, SC · Public · 31 graduates
$51,582
debt $21,500
- 9
Doylestown, PA · Private nonprofit · 21 graduates
$49,746
debt $25,197
- 10
Durham, NH · Public · 26 graduates
$47,528
debt $27,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Agricultural Production Operations by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Education
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $98,700
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
Management
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Median pay
- $89,900
- Outlook
- Decline
High school diploma
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Science
Soil and Plant Scientists
- Median pay
- $78,850
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Science
Conservation Scientists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Science
Park Naturalists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Science
Range Managers
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Science
Animal Scientists
- Median pay
- $68,940
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
More in Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Agricultural Business and Management232 colleges
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services229 colleges
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians183 colleges
- Agriculture, General111 colleges
- Animal Sciences99 colleges
- Plant Sciences85 colleges
- Food Science and Technology76 colleges
- Agricultural Mechanization57 colleges
Questions about Agricultural Production Operations
How many colleges offer Agricultural Production Operations?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Agricultural Production Operations at these degree levels: certificate (187 colleges), associate's (173 colleges), bachelor's (63 colleges), master's (25 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (2 colleges), doctoral (10 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (16 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Agricultural Production Operations earn $52,516 a year four years after finishing, across 14 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Agricultural Production Operations graduates earn the most?
North Dakota State University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Agricultural Production Operations: $83,779 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.