Best Bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education Programs in 2026
The top 25 out of 47 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1301.
Agricultural teacher education prepares you to teach agriculture, food, and natural resources in middle and high schools, usually as part of a career and technical education program. Coursework blends the agricultural sciences, plant and animal systems, agribusiness, and mechanics with teaching methods, and most programs tie into leading a school FFA chapter and supervised agricultural experiences. Graduates run classrooms, greenhouses, shops, and land labs, and often advise students on projects and competitions. The ranking below covers accredited bachelor's programs and shows each school's costs and graduation outcomes.
- In-state tuition typically runs from $4,128 to $26,216 a year, with a median near $8,559.
- 42 of 47 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 8 offer an online or hybrid option.
- Most lead to an initial state teaching license, which means supervised student teaching plus a licensure exam (37 of 52 US jurisdictions use the Praxis series).
- We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
- 1
University of Florida
98score- 91%Grad rate
- $4,477/yrIn-state tuition
- $25,694/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 24%Admit rate
- 36,573Undergrads
- 39Grads/yr
- 1400SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication (Agricultural Education specialization)
- Hybrid
About the programThe University of Florida's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication, with its Agricultural Education specialization, prepares students to bring agriculture into secondary classrooms across grades 6 through 12. Offered through UF Online, the 120-credit teaching track runs in a hybrid format that balances distance coursework with two essential in-person pieces: a one-week summer boot camp and a full semester of student teaching completed in Florida. A department internship or capstone rounds out the practical side. Candidates who want certification apply to the Florida Department of Education and must pass the general knowledge, professional education, and Agriculture 6-12 sections of the state teacher certification exam. For agriculture-minded students, it blends online flexibility with the classroom immersion that licensure demands. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 91% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admissions are competitive, a 24% acceptance rate, which nudges it further up. Cost only helps its case: at $4,477 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 2
University of Georgia
84score- 90%Grad rate
- $10,034/yrIn-state tuition
- $30,272/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 38%Admit rate
- 32,399Undergrads
- 10Grads/yr
- 1375SAT mid
- Agricultural Education (BSA)
About the programThe University of Georgia's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education prepares students to teach agriculture in middle and high schools, while also opening doors to related work beyond the classroom. Through the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, candidates study on two fronts at once, building genuine agricultural science knowledge alongside teacher preparation in areas like teaching methods, curriculum planning, and leadership development. A slate of technical agriculture electives lets students match the program to their own interests. Classroom readiness comes through school practicums and a clinical teaching practicum completed under a cooperating teacher in middle and high school settings. That dual grounding in subject matter and pedagogy is what makes the degree distinctive, and it leads to certification to teach agriculture. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 90% of students graduate, top 2% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 38% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,034 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.
- 3
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
84score- 85%Grad rate
- $6,535/yrIn-state tuition
- $30,583/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 42%Admit rate
- 28,422Undergrads
- 15Grads/yr
- 1385SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education
About the programNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education, offered through its Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, is a 120-credit path to teaching agriculture in grades 6 to 12. A defining feature is how much students can tailor it: they choose among seven concentrations spanning fields such as animal science, horticultural science, and agricultural business, so their expertise fits the courses they hope to teach. The degree builds toward a substantial student teaching semester in agriculture during the spring of the senior year, and candidates must earn a C or higher in professional education courses to be recommended for licensure. That structure keeps content mastery and classroom readiness tied together throughout. Thanks to North Carolina's participation in interstate reciprocity, graduates may go on to pursue certification in roughly 35 states, well beyond where they trained. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 85% graduation rate lands it in the top 13% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 42% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,535 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 4
Clemson University
78score- 87%Grad rate
- $14,038/yrIn-state tuition
- $39,350/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 38%Admit rate
- 23,401Undergrads
- 5Grads/yr
- 1325SAT mid
- Agricultural Education (B.S.)
About the programClemson University's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education, offered through the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, provides two emphases, Teaching and Leadership. The teaching emphasis prepares candidates for South Carolina teacher certification and combines agricultural content with education coursework. It culminates in a twelve-week directed student teaching experience in which candidates work alongside a cooperating teacher, take on full classroom responsibilities, and support FFA chapter activities and career development events. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 87% of students graduate, top 7% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 38% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $14,038 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.
- 5
Ohio State University-Main Campus
76score- 88%Grad rate
- $12,180/yrIn-state tuition
- $38,958/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 61%Admit rate
- 46,815Undergrads
- 18Grads/yr
- 1395SAT mid
- Agriscience Education (BS)
About the programOhio State's Agriscience Education, a Bachelor of Science, is designed for students who want to bring agricultural science into the classroom, and it leads to Ohio Career Technical Education licensure in Agriscience for grades 4 through 12. Housed in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, the program blends agricultural science with educational psychology, instructional methods, and youth development, so candidates learn both their subject and how to teach it. Field experiences give real classroom practice, and students log a Record of Occupational Experience Hours that supports the Career-Technical credential. After clearing background checks and required assessments, graduates are recommended for a Four-Year Resident Educator License. The result is preparation aimed squarely at the agriscience and FFA-connected teachers Ohio's public schools rely on. As a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Ohio.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 88% graduation rate lands it in the top 4% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 61% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $12,180 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 6
University of California-Davis
76score- 86%Grad rate
- $12,260/yrIn-state tuition
- $44,148/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 42%Admit rate
- 32,273Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Agricultural & Environmental Education, Bachelor of Science
About the programHoused in the Department of Animal Science, this Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Environmental Education is a substantial commitment, requiring roughly 148 to 152 units for students who want to teach agricultural and environmental sciences. The curriculum is unusually broad in its subject grounding, pairing a 51-unit preparatory block that ranges across six agricultural areas with 41 to 45 units of science and math before layering in a 20-unit depth block in agricultural education. Fieldwork extends learning beyond the lecture hall, placing students in both school classrooms and non-formal learning sites where agriculture is actually taught. Because the program is designed to meet state and federal requirements for entering teacher preparation in agriculture, science, and Career Technical Education, it functions as a running start rather than an endpoint. It sets students up for the separate single subject agriculture credential that follows. This bachelor's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in California.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 86% of students graduate, top 9% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 42% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $12,260 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.
- 7
Purdue University-Main Campus
76score- 83%Grad rate
- $9,718/yrIn-state tuition
- $28,520/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 50%Admit rate
- 44,819Undergrads
- 16Grads/yr
- 1340SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education
- On-campus
About the programPurdue University's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education is made for students who want to carry a love of agriculture into the secondary classroom. The degree threads together professional education coursework, agricultural science content, and real work in the field, including supervised agricultural experience and a stretch of student teaching that puts theory into practice. Candidates also draw on the breadth of the College of Agriculture through agricultural selectives, so their subject knowledge stays as current as the industry they will teach about. Completion leads to an Indiana REPA 3 Initial Instructional License in Career and Technical Education: Agriculture for grades 5-12, with optional endorsements in areas such as High Ability and English Learners. Taught on campus, the program belongs to a College of Education accredited at the initial-licensure level by CAEP. Earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 83% graduation rate lands it in the top 15% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 50% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $9,718 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 8
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
70score- 68%Grad rate
- $5,417/yrIn-state tuition
- $20,937/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 75%Admit rate
- 22,364Undergrads
- 30Grads/yr
- 1145SAT mid
- Agricultural Education: Multidisciplinary
About the programOklahoma State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a multidisciplinary major in Agricultural Education, housed in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership within the Ferguson College of Agriculture. The program combines major and professional core coursework with laboratory and clinical experiences in schools, culminating in a student teaching semester paired with a professional development course. It prepares candidates for Oklahoma teacher licensure in agricultural education. Earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Oklahoma's career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 68% of students graduate, top 30% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $5,417 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.
- 9
Texas Tech University
69score- 69%Grad rate
- $8,935/yrIn-state tuition
- $21,240/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 73%Admit rate
- 32,580Undergrads
- 27Grads/yr
- 1185SAT mid
- Interdisciplinary Agriculture: (Agricultural Education)—Teacher Certification, B.S.
- On-campus
About the programTexas Tech's Interdisciplinary Agriculture (Agricultural Education) Teacher Certification B.S. is a 120-credit-hour degree in the Davis College for students who want to teach high school agricultural education. The plan draws on coursework across agricultural sciences departments and culminates in a spring semester of AGED 4306 Student Teaching, in which candidates enroll for 9 semester credit hours. Completion leads to Texas teacher certification in agricultural education. Davis College lists this track as campus-based, not online. A bachelor's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Texas.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 69% graduation rate lands it in the top 26% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 73% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $8,935 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
68score- 68%Grad rate
- $6,084/yrIn-state tuition
- $18,684/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 75%Admit rate
- 25,255Undergrads
- 33Grads/yr
- Agricultural Science, B.S.
About the programCalifornia State Polytechnic University-Pomona built its Agricultural Science, B.S. in the College of Agriculture as the subject-matter foundation for students who want to teach agriculture in California's secondary schools. The coursework is deliberately wide, moving across subjects such as biology, chemistry, sustainable agriculture, animal production, and agribusiness, mirroring the range a secondary agriculture teacher is expected to cover. Because agriculture education carries its own requirements, full teaching eligibility also calls for two years of practical agricultural experience and completion of the separate Agriculture Specialist Credential. In other words, the bachelor's is designed to feed the credential rather than to grant a 7-12 license on its own. That structure suits students committed to both the industry and the classroom. As a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in California.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 68% graduation rate lands it in the top 30% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,084 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 11
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
59score- 85%Grad rate
- $15,148/yrIn-state tuition
- $36,296/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 80%Admit rate
- 41,303Undergrads
- 5Grads/yr
- 1400SAT mid
- Agricultural Education B.S.
- On-campus
About the programFor students who grew up around agriculture and want to pass it on, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers an Agricultural Education B.S. through the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences that folds initial teacher licensure into the bachelor's degree. Candidates study education foundations and complete a twelve-week teaching internship, qualifying for a Minnesota 5-12 agricultural education license along with a Coordinator of Work-Based Learning license. The subject matter is as wide as the field itself, spanning agriscience, agribusiness, animal science, horticulture, food science, agricultural mechanics, and natural resource science. A minimum 2.50 overall GPA is required to be recommended for Minnesota licensure. The program is delivered on campus. This bachelor's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Minnesota.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 85% of students graduate, top 13% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 80% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $15,148 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.
- 12
College of the Ozarks
59score- 64%Grad rate
- $21,800/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 12%Admit rate
- 1,454Undergrads
- 4Grads/yr
- 1135SAT mid
- Agriculture Education/Secondary Education (9-12) Major
- On-campus
About the programCollege of the Ozarks builds its Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education around doing as much as knowing, a fit for students who want to teach agriculture in grades 9 through 12. Based in the Agriculture Department, the program runs on the college's signature work-learning model, giving candidates applied experience across the school's own operations, from agronomy and beef and dairy farms to a feed mill, hog farm, and meat processing plant. That firsthand grounding in the field pairs with the classroom preparation students need to lead their own agriculture programs. Student teaching is required, preceded by a Missouri background check valid for twelve months, and certification is handled through the college's Education Office. The teacher education program holds Missouri DESE approval, and graduates seeking to teach elsewhere pursue reciprocity through their Missouri certificate. A bachelor's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Missouri.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 64%, solid without being a standout. It is genuinely selective too, admitting just 12% of applicants, a sign of a competitive, well-prepared cohort. The one drag is price, $21,800 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 13
North Carolina A & T State University
59score- 57%Grad rate
- $3,540/yrIn-state tuition
- $17,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 50%Admit rate
- 12,497Undergrads
- 23Grads/yr
- 1105SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education - Secondary Education Concentration
- Online
About the programFor students drawn to agriculture and the classroom alike, North Carolina A&T State University pairs the two in a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education with a secondary education concentration, offered through its college of agriculture and environmental sciences. The curriculum carries North Carolina Department of Public Instruction approval, so graduates can apply for the state's agricultural education teaching license once they complete it. What makes this program especially flexible is its dual delivery: students can study on campus or finish through an online 2+2 completion track designed for transfers from community colleges and the NC State Agricultural Institute. That online path fits working and place-bound students well, though licensure eligibility for the online option is limited to North Carolina. The result is a degree that blends agricultural content knowledge with real preparation to teach it. As a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in North Carolina.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 57% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 50% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $3,540 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 14
University of Missouri-Columbia
57score- 75%Grad rate
- $13,658/yrIn-state tuition
- $34,877/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 78%Admit rate
- 24,449Undergrads
- 17Grads/yr
- 1240SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Missouri-Columbia's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education speaks to students rooted in agriculture who want to pass that knowledge on, offered through the Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Students choose between a teaching concentration and a communications and leadership concentration, letting the degree flex toward the classroom or toward advocacy and outreach. The teaching track leads to licensure and runs through the Teacher Development Program, where acceptance into Phase II is the gateway to methods courses. Hands-on learning builds through Field Experiences I and II and a student teaching internship in agriculture worth up to twelve credit hours. Graduates leave ready to serve as teachers, communicators, and leaders across the agriculture industry. This bachelor's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Missouri.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 75% graduation rate lands it in the top 22% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $13,658 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.
- 15
Kansas State University
55score- 71%Grad rate
- $10,243/yrIn-state tuition
- $27,590/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 82%Admit rate
- 15,650Undergrads
- 20Grads/yr
- 1160SAT mid
- Agricultural Education
About the programKansas State University's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education blends subject expertise with hands-on teaching preparation, readying candidates to lead agricultural courses in grades 6-12. Housed in the College of Agriculture, the program sends students into schools for field experiences and a culminating internship, where they teach classes and take on advising an FFA chapter alongside their students. That combination gives future teachers a feel for both the instructional and the leadership sides of an agriculture classroom. Graduates are prepared to apply for a Kansas teaching license or certificate, which can also support teaching in other states while in-state licensure is finalized. The program's initial and advanced licensure preparation is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, signaling a reviewed, standards-based course of study. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 71% of students graduate, top 24% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 82% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,243 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.
- 16
Michigan State University
54score- 81%Grad rate
- $17,739/yrIn-state tuition
- $44,510/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 85%Admit rate
- 41,234Undergrads
- 6Grads/yr
- 1270SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science
- On-campus
About the programMichigan State University's Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education prepares teachers for grades 5-12 in a field where hands-on learning is the whole point. Based in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, it blends classroom instruction with field experience and experiential learning, and threads sustainability through all of its majors. Students round out their preparation with internships and education abroad opportunities that carry them beyond campus. Because the content and certification pieces are handled separately here, candidates apply on their own to the Secondary Education Teacher Preparation Program through the College of Education to earn their teaching credential. The result is a program that grounds future agriculture educators in both subject expertise and practical, real-world experience. This bachelor's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Michigan.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 81% graduation rate lands it in the top 17% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 85%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $17,739 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 17
University of Nevada-Reno
54score- 61%Grad rate
- $8,430/yrIn-state tuition
- $26,572/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 74%Admit rate
- 19,117Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1175SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Education/Secondary Education and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences (dual degree, NevadaTeach)
About the programFor students rooted in agriculture who also want to teach it, the University of Nevada-Reno offers a NevadaTeach dual-degree pathway through the Department of Agricultural, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences. Within four years, students earn both a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences, satisfying Nevada's requirements for secondary agricultural sciences licensure at grades 7 through 12. The coursework stays close to the land, emphasizing hands-on experience in crop and animal production so future teachers can speak from real practice. Campus life reinforces that focus, with student groups such as the Society for Rangeland Management, Nevada Collegiate FFA, and the Pre-Vet Club offering community and connections. The two degrees advance together, giving graduates both subject depth and the credential to teach it. Earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Nevada's career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 61%, solid without being a standout. A 74% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $8,430 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.
- 18
Iowa State University
52score- 75%Grad rate
- $9,252/yrIn-state tuition
- $27,346/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 89%Admit rate
- 25,628Undergrads
- 30Grads/yr
- 1240SAT mid
- Agricultural and Life Sciences Education (Teacher Certification option)
- On-campus
About the programBuilt for students who love agriculture and want to bring it into a classroom, Iowa State University's B.S. in Agricultural and Life Sciences Education pairs subject knowledge with the craft of teaching through its Teacher Certification option. The Department of Agricultural Education and Studies grounds the degree in real content, from crops and animals to broader life sciences, then layers in classroom methods so students learn how to explain and manage as well as know. Supervised teaching experiences carry that preparation into actual schools, and the whole sequence leads to Iowa teacher licensure. Program materials point to genuine demand, noting a shortage of agriculture and life science teachers across Iowa and the country. Delivered on campus, it suits students who want a hands-on path from farm and field to the front of a room. Earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa's career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 75% graduation rate lands it in the top 22% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $9,252 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 19
Mississippi State University
52score- 67%Grad rate
- $10,052/yrIn-state tuition
- $27,487/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 78%Admit rate
- 18,567Undergrads
- 11Grads/yr
- 1225SAT mid
- Agricultural Education (Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications)
About the programMississippi State University offers a Bachelor's in Agricultural Education as a concentration within the Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications major in the School of Human Sciences, alongside concentrations in Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Leadership. The program prepares students for careers as agricultural education teachers and includes two teaching internships that let candidates apply their coursework in a workplace setting. It leads to teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Mississippi.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 67% of students graduate, top 37% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,052 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 20
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
50score- 67%Grad rate
- $8,250/yrIn-state tuition
- $26,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 87%Admit rate
- 19,701Undergrads
- 25Grads/yr
- 1214SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication - Agricultural Education Option
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication with an Agricultural Education option, based in the ALEC department within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The program prepares students to teach agriculture in grades 6 through 12 and leads to a recommendation for Nebraska teacher certification. Candidates gain early classroom field experience, complete a semester of student teaching, and build practical agricultural work experience alongside their coursework. Classes are held on campus in Lincoln. Earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Nebraska's career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 67% of students graduate, top 37% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 87%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $8,250 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.
- 21
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
47score- 49%Grad rate
- $5,024/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 57%Admit rate
- 9,764Undergrads
- 8Grads/yr
- Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences with concentration in Agricultural Education (Educacion Agricola)
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez offers a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Agricultural Education, one of several tracks within the degree and a distinctive route into teaching. Housed in the Departamento de Educación Agrícola, it prepares students to become agriculture teachers, both occupational and non-occupational, within the Puerto Rico Department of Education. The curriculum reaches well beyond the classroom, covering areas such as teaching methods, curriculum development, educational technology, youth organizations, and adult education, reflecting the many settings where agricultural instruction happens. Candidates complete their teacher preparation through the campus's Programa de Preparación de Maestros. That teacher-preparation program reports CAEP accreditation through Spring 2027. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 49% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 57% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $5,024 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 22
Huntington University
43score- 64%Grad rate
- $31,870/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 76%Admit rate
- 1,588Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- 1040SAT mid
- Agricultural Education
- On-campus
About the programHuntington University's Agricultural Education B.S. brings together agricultural knowledge and teaching preparation, leading to Indiana licensure to teach agriculture in grades 5 through 12. Through the Education Department working alongside Agricultural Studies, students blend agribusiness and education coursework with genuinely applied experiences, including a field placement and teaching demonstrations in a dedicated methods course before they reach full student teaching. Industry internships and a choice of upper-level courses in areas such as animal science or crop science let candidates deepen the agricultural expertise they will pass on to students. The program holds CAEP accreditation and approval from the Indiana Department of Education. Notably, it is one of only two four-year agriculture degrees in the state. A bachelor's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Indiana.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 64%, solid without being a standout. A 76% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $31,870 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 23
University of Idaho
43score- 57%Grad rate
- $6,756/yrIn-state tuition
- $25,992/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 76%Admit rate
- 9,574Undergrads
- 7Grads/yr
- 1110SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Idaho's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education prepares students to teach grades 6-12 in both formal classrooms and informal settings. Offered through the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, it is the only agriculture teacher preparation program in Idaho. The degree leads to a Standard Secondary Teaching Certificate that transfers to most other states, and students gain experience coordinating FFA events at local, state, and national levels. This bachelor's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Idaho.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 57% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 76% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,756 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 24
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
41score- 67%Grad rate
- $10,610/yrIn-state tuition
- $32,298/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 89%Admit rate
- 26,221Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Agricultural Education (Teacher Development concentration)
- On-campus
About the programColorado State University's Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education prepares teachers for a specialized field, secondary agricultural education, blending agricultural science with classroom preparation coordinated by the university's Center for Educator Preparation. Students who choose the Teacher Development concentration earn Colorado licensure to teach school-based agricultural education at the secondary level, while a separate Agricultural Literacy concentration stays non-licensure for those aiming elsewhere. Preparation is deliberately hands-on, culminating in a teacher development internship, the program's term for student teaching, that mixes classroom, laboratory, and applied experiences. Candidates learn in strong facilities, including the COBANK Center for Agricultural Education and the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building. The program helps staff Colorado's roughly 120 secondary agricultural education programs. A bachelor's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Colorado.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 67% of students graduate, top 37% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $10,610 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 25
West Virginia University
41score- 65%Grad rate
- $10,104/yrIn-state tuition
- $28,608/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 89%Admit rate
- 18,206Undergrads
- 5Grads/yr
- 1115SAT mid
- Agricultural and Extension Education (Teacher Education emphasis)
- On-campus
About the programWest Virginia University's Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Agricultural and Extension Education offers a Teacher Education emphasis through the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, joining a love of agriculture with a path into the classroom. Students begin on a common foundation and then choose their direction, selecting teacher education over the extension or agricultural technology tracks that share the early coursework. That shared start gives the program breadth before candidates specialize in teaching. Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the on-campus Morgantown pathway leads to West Virginia certification to teach agricultural education at the middle and high school levels. A semester-long student teaching internship anchors the preparation in real schools before graduation. As a bachelor's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in West Virginia.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 65% graduation rate lands it in the top 39% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $10,104 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
How we rank
Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other programs in its specialty: graduation rate (50%), selectivity by admission rate (30%), and affordability by in-state tuition (20%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like. A program missing a field gets the neutral median for it, so it is neither rewarded nor punished. Earnings are intentionally excluded: federal per-school earnings are not yet published for education programs, and the field-level salary figure is identical for every school, so ranking on it would be meaningless. To keep the overall list from being dominated by a single state's public-university system, it shows at most 2 programs per state; the value, affordability, graduation-rate, and selectivity pages rank every program without that limit.
- Graduation rate: 50%
- Selectivity (admission rate): 30%
- Affordability (in-state tuition): 20%
What careers can you get with a bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education?
Graduates most often go on to work as career and technical education teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $66,270, with most earning between $50,040 and $101,340, and roughly 111,420 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agriculture teachers are reported within career and technical education teachers.
Read the full guide on how to become a career and technical education teacher, or see career and technical education teachers pay by state →
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2032), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.
Career and Technical Education Teachers Salary by State in 2026
Median annual wage for career and technical education teachers, by state. Highest is Washington at $101,180, lowest is Puerto Rico at $53,160.
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Washington | $101,180 |
| Connecticut | $100,810 |
| Massachusetts | $98,020 |
| New Jersey | $83,770 |
| Rhode Island | $81,820 |
| California | $80,620 |
| New York | $79,820 |
| Delaware | $79,230 |
| Ohio | $79,230 |
| Vermont | $79,220 |
| Georgia | $78,760 |
| Oregon | $78,380 |
| Maryland | $78,320 |
| Alaska | $78,130 |
| Maine | $78,050 |
| Illinois | $77,950 |
| Michigan | $77,400 |
| New Hampshire | $76,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,760 |
| Virginia | $75,580 |
| Wisconsin | $74,310 |
| Colorado | $72,750 |
| Utah | $72,380 |
| South Carolina | $72,120 |
| Minnesota | $71,650 |
| New Mexico | $66,750 |
| Texas | $64,610 |
| Nevada | $64,510 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 |
| Arizona | $62,980 |
| Wyoming | $62,570 |
| Florida | $62,140 |
| Arkansas | $61,780 |
| Tennessee | $61,700 |
| North Dakota | $61,500 |
| Louisiana | $61,300 |
| Kentucky | $61,130 |
| Idaho | $60,510 |
| Alabama | $59,470 |
| Missouri | $59,300 |
| Oklahoma | $58,800 |
| North Carolina | $58,600 |
| Kansas | $58,300 |
| Mississippi | $57,910 |
| West Virginia | $57,760 |
| Iowa | $57,660 |
| Indiana | $56,390 |
| South Dakota | $56,070 |
| Montana | $55,190 |
| Puerto Rico | $53,160 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How much a bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education program costs
Published in-state tuition across the 47 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $4,128 to $26,216 a year, with a median near $8,559. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 42 of the 47 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.
Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.
What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for career and technical education teachers is $66,270 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.
Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.
How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education
A bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education program prepares you academically, but teaching in a public school also requires a license issued by the state where you work. Every state runs its own credential, yet the path rhymes almost everywhere. You complete a state-approved preparation program, log supervised field experience that builds to a full term of student teaching, and pass one or more licensure exams, then apply to the state with a background check and, in most places, complete a mentored first year before the license becomes fully clear and renewable.
The exams are where states differ most. 37 of the 52 US jurisdictions use ETS's Praxis series to test basic skills and subject knowledge; the rest run their own, such as California's CBEST and CSET or New York's NYSTCE. A growing number also require a performance assessment like edTPA, in which candidates submit video and written evidence from their own student teaching. The grade-band and subject endorsements on your license, elementary versus a specific secondary subject, are set by the tests you pass and the program you complete.
Because the specifics are decided state by state, where you plan to teach matters as much as where you study. Licenses do not transfer automatically, though most states honor an out-of-state credential through interstate reciprocity, usually with some added coursework or testing. Check your target state's department of education for its exact requirements before you enroll.
Sources: licensure requirements from each state's department of education; the Praxis series from ETS; edTPA; programmatic standards from CAEP.
How does accreditation work in 2026 for a bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education?
Two different things get called accreditation, and only one of them gets you licensed. Institutional accreditation comes first: a regional accreditor such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, or the Middle States Commission reviews the whole university, and it is what lets credits transfer and federal financial aid flow. Any college worth considering has it, but on its own it says nothing specific about the quality of the education program.
Program, or programmatic, accreditation is the education-specific layer. The national accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formed in 2013 when the two older bodies, NCATE and TEAC, merged; AAQEP is a newer alternative that a growing number of programs have adopted. A CAEP or AAQEP seal signals that the preparation program has been reviewed against national standards for clinical practice, content knowledge, and candidate outcomes.
The credential that actually licenses you, though, is state program approval. A state only allows its approved programs to recommend graduates for certification, so approval, not a national seal, is what turns your degree into a license, and it is also what makes interstate reciprocity possible. Plenty of strong programs carry state approval without a separate national accreditor, which is common and not a red flag. When you compare options, confirm two things: that the school is regionally accredited, and that the specific program is approved by the state where you intend to teach.
Programmatic accreditor: CAEP. State approval is granted by each state's department of education.
Ways to earn your bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education
A traditional four-year, on-campus bachelor's is the most common route into teaching, and for good reason: the degree leans on in-person field placements that build to a full term of student teaching. That said, 8 of the 47 ranked programs advertise an online or hybrid option, which can suit paraprofessionals and career-changers already working in schools; the clinical hours still take place in a real classroom near you.
You do not have to start at a four-year school. Many students spend their first two years at a community college, earn an associate's, and transfer in, which trims the cost of the early coursework, and statewide articulation agreements often guarantee the credits apply. If you already hold a bachelor's in another field, you can usually skip a second degree entirely and enter through an alternative-certification program or a master's-with-licensure route built for career-changers.
Whatever the format, the non-negotiable is supervised clinical practice. Every licensure-track program includes a student-teaching placement, and some now pair it with a paid, year-long residency alongside a mentor teacher, an increasingly common model that eases the unpaid-semester crunch traditional student teaching can create.
Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.
How to become an agriculture teacher
The path runs from a bachelor's degree through a state-approved prep program and licensure exams into a mentored first year.
- 1
Earn a bachelor's degree
Complete a bachelor's in agricultural education program that combines agricultural science content with teaching methods. Many programs are housed in a college of agriculture and coordinated with the education department.
- 2
Complete a state-approved prep program
Finish the supervised student teaching placement built into your program, typically a full semester in a school agriculture department. This is where you practice classroom management, lab safety, and FFA advising.
- 3
Pass the required licensure exams
Sit for the exams your state requires, often a Praxis subject test in agriculture plus a general teaching or pedagogy test. The exact tests and cut scores vary by state.
- 4
Apply for your state license
Submit your application to the state education agency with transcripts, exam scores, and a criminal background check. Some states issue a career and technical education or agriculture-specific endorsement.
- 5
Complete a mentored first year
Start teaching under an induction or mentoring program that many states require for new teachers. Use it to build your curriculum, land lab, and community partnerships.
Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.
Frequently asked questions about a Bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education
Do you need a bachelor's in agricultural education to teach agriculture?
You need at least a bachelor's degree to teach agriculture, and most future agriculture teachers earn one specifically in agricultural education. That degree pairs agricultural science content with the teaching coursework and student teaching a state requires for licensure.
How long does a bachelor's in agricultural education take to become an agriculture teacher?
Becoming an agriculture teacher typically takes about four years of full-time study for the bachelor's degree, including a semester of student teaching near the end. Testing and the state license application usually add a few weeks to a few months after graduation.
What do agriculture teachers earn with a bachelor's in agricultural education in 2026?
Agriculture teachers at the secondary level generally fall under career and technical education, where the BLS median wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School is $66,270, though actual pay varies by state, district, and experience.
Do you need a teaching license with a bachelor's in agricultural education?
Yes, you need a teaching license to teach agriculture in a public school, either a state license or a career and technical education endorsement, which you earn by finishing a state-approved program, passing the required exams, and clearing a background check. Requirements differ from state to state, so check with the state where you plan to teach.
Can you earn a bachelor's in agricultural education online?
You can earn some of a bachelor's in agricultural teacher education online, but agricultural education is hands on, and the student teaching, lab, and mechanics components require in-person work. Fully online options are limited, so confirm how a program handles field placements before enrolling.
Is a bachelor's in agricultural education worth it?
An agricultural education degree is worth it if you want to teach and have a background or interest in agriculture, since it is a direct route into a field that has ongoing demand for qualified teachers. Beyond the classroom, the training can also lead to roles in extension education, agribusiness training, and youth program leadership.
Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.
Data sources for our Bachelor's in Agricultural Teacher Education ranking
- Program counts, tuition, graduation and admission rates: IPEDS, US Department of Education.
- Wages and employment outlook: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Program accreditation: CAEP; state licensure requirements from each state's department of education.
- Program descriptions: each school's official catalog and program pages.