Agricultural Economics · California

Agricultural Economics colleges in California

CampusPin lists 301 U.S. colleges in California that offer Agricultural Economics programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Agricultural Economics applies economic analysis to farming, food systems, natural resources, commodity markets, farm policy, and rural development at home and abroad.

Schools in California that offer Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics programs in California: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 301 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

301

Public / private

21 / 29

Universities / 2-year

39 / 11

Cities represented

41

In-state tuition range

$1,104–$63,255

Median in-state tuition

$12,118

Lowest published in-state tuition

Barstow Community College

$1,104

Most selective

California Institute of Technology

3% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

California State University-Fullerton

41,793 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Agricultural Economics program

  • Microeconomic and macroeconomic theory applied to agriculture
  • Econometrics and statistical analysis of agricultural data
  • Commodity and futures market analysis
  • Farm and agricultural policy evaluation
  • Resource and environmental economics
  • Agricultural finance, credit, and lending
  • International agricultural trade and development
  • Production economics and farm decision modeling
  • Rural development and land use analysis

Where a Agricultural Economics degree can lead

  • Agricultural Economist
  • Agribusiness Analyst
  • Agricultural Loan Officer
  • Commodity Market Analyst
  • Agricultural Policy Analyst
  • Rural Development Specialist

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 economists median $115,440).

Agricultural Economics is the study of how economic principles govern the production, distribution, and use of food, fiber, and natural resources. Students learn to analyze resource allocation, productivity, investment, and trends across the agricultural sector, both within their own country and in international trade. The major draws on core economic theory and quantitative methods, then applies that reasoning to working farms, agribusiness firms, food supply chains, commodity and futures markets, land and water use, and rural communities. This is what sets it apart from a general Economics major, which treats markets in the abstract, and from Agribusiness, which leans toward firm-level management and operations. Here the lens stays fixed on agriculture itself: why a crop price moves, how a farm policy reshapes planting decisions, how credit reaches rural borrowers, and how development programs lift agricultural output in lower-income regions.

Most students enter through a bachelor's degree that blends microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics with applied agricultural coursework, often including a capstone project, an internship with a cooperative, lender, agency, or commodity firm, and field or data-driven analysis of real markets. It is worth being candid about titles: roles that carry the formal label of economist usually call for a master's degree, so students aiming squarely at that occupation should expect graduate study. With a bachelor's, graduates commonly move into agribusiness analyst positions, agricultural lending and credit, market research, commodity trading support, and policy or program roles in government and nonprofit organizations. Work settings range from banks and farm credit institutions to trading firms, agencies, extension services, and international development groups. For licensure or any professional credential, verify the specific requirements with your program and your state, since they vary by employer and jurisdiction.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of economists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $115,440 and projects employment to grow about 1.2% from 2024 to 2034; a master's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Agricultural Economics in other states

Other majors in California

Find more Agricultural Economics schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 301+ Agricultural Economics programs in California by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

Search Agricultural Economics schools in CaliforniaAbout the Agricultural Economics majorAll colleges in California

Related majors in California