Gain Practical Ag Business Skills and an Advantage in the Job Market
Do you love agriculture but want business skills that will make you more marketable? Northwest Missouri State University’s agricultural business program gives you a mix of both: hands-on ag knowledge and the business sense employers are looking for in their next hire. Providing a career-focused education that goes beyond hands-on learning, our Bachelor of Science in agricultural business program boasts a 98% job placement and delivers exceptional value to our graduates.
Pick Your Path: Agricultural Business Degree Options
Agricultural Business B.S.
A four-year agricultural business degree is ideal for hands-on problem-solvers who understand farming but want broader career options. Many of our students come from rural backgrounds and enjoy analyzing markets, working with people and applying business concepts to agricultural challenges.
As part of the 65-credit-hour program, you’ll expand your knowledge of technical agriculture, complementing it with solid business management principles. The program focuses on four core areas including:
The 24-credit-hour agricultural business minor allows students to broaden their skills while preparing for agricultural business jobs in specialized sectors of the agriculture and food industries. It’s most beneficial to students who are majoring in:
Why Choose Northwest for Your Agricultural Business Degree?
At Northwest, you learn from industry-experienced faculty in one of Missouri’s top-ranked agricultural programs. Thanks to our close ties with agricultural businesses in the region, Northwest ag business majors get unique internship opportunities that often turn into job offers. If you enjoy hands-on learning experiences, you’ll love going to class at our University farm and working with the latest tech at our Agricultural Learning Center.
Why Choose Northwest for Your Agricultural Business Degree?
At Northwest, you learn from industry-experienced faculty in one of Missouri’s top-ranked agricultural programs. Thanks to our close ties with agricultural businesses in the region, Northwest ag business majors get unique internship opportunities that often turn into job offers. If you enjoy hands-on learning experiences, you’ll love going to class at our University farm and working with the latest tech at our Agricultural Learning Center.
A Top-Ranked, Affordable Agricultural Business Program
Get exceptional value from your degree. Attending Northwest means affordable tuition plus real career prospects and preparedness. It’s why we’re one of the best colleges for agricultural business, ranked #1 for best value agricultural programs in Missouri and #5 nationally.
Experience Agriculture in Action
Study on a campus built for agricultural learning. Our program doesn’t just teach theory – you’ll apply future trading strategies, analyze real farm operations’ financials and develop business plans for local agricultural enterprises. Our Agricultural Learning Center features cutting-edge technology that you’ll use in future agricultural business jobs.
Industry Connections
Don’t wait for graduation to start building your network. At Northwest, you’ll interact with potential employers throughout your education. Our faculty bring real agricultural business and management experience to the classroom, and they maintain strong connections with regional employers. Your instructors will know you by name and ensure potential employers know you, too.
As an agricultural business major, you’ll gain an insider advantage in the world of agriculture and food. Before graduation, you’ll already be comfortable with marketing strategies, financial analysis and policy development. You’ll have the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to navigate nearly any challenge the agribusiness sector throws your way.
Our ag business program graduates land exciting roles as:
Agricultural lending officers who help farmers secure financing for new equipment or land purchases
Sales representatives who connect farmers with the latest innovations
Grain merchandisers who buy and sell commodities
Farm managers who oversee operations and boost profits
Policy leaders who shape the future of agriculture
Your agriculture education should propel you forward, not hold you back. We make it affordable through various financial aid options, including university-wide and program-specific funding opportunities through the School of Agricultural Sciences. Search ag business program scholarships or browse all aid below.
At Northwest, you’re never just a number – you’re part of our Bearcat community. Our faculty are ag business experts who double as dedicated mentors, steering you along your path to career success.
150+ Clubs and Organizations
Get involved beyond the classroom. Join the Collegiate Farm Bureau to advocate for agricultural interests, or develop your leadership skills while serving the agricultural community in CFFA (Collegiate Future Farmers of America). You can also join our Sigma Alpha sorority and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.
A Family of Bearcats
Experience Bearcat Pride everywhere you go. Bearcat Pride is a campus tradition that lasts long after cheering our championship-winning athletics teams to victory. The peers you meet along the way will become lifelong friends.
Bearcat Stories
“I feel like everyone in the ag department knows who I am, and they make me feel like I’m not just a number. I think they’ve definitely been impactful for where I am going and me staying in ag business because I wasn’t really sure if it was for me or what I wanted to do with it at first.”
Agribusinesses are commercial enterprises involved in agricultural product production, processing and distribution. They span the entire food production chain, from farm suppliers and equipment manufacturers to processors, marketers and distributors. Agribusinesses provide essential services and products that support modern farming operations while connecting agricultural producers to consumers.
What can you do with an ag business degree?
An agricultural business degree equips you for diverse opportunities in farming and business.
Graduates with this degree excel in agricultural business careers such as:
Agricultural lenders evaluating farm loans
Marketing and sales professionals who work in agricultural machinery or equipment
Commodity traders navigating global markets
Policy analysts shaping agricultural regulations
Entrepreneurs exploring ventures in agritourism, value-added processing and agricultural consulting
Some graduates pursue postgraduate studies, earning their MBA in agricultural economics, Master of Science in agricultural economics or Ph.D.
What are some of the courses I’ll take as an ag business major?
At Northwest, some of our most popular courses include:
Applied Futures Marketing: A course that familiarizes you with the composition of the futures and cash markets. Learn how they’re related and what impact speculation and hedging have in the market.
Agricultural Finance: A course designed to help you make strategic financial decisions and evaluate the risk of lending in agriculture.
Agricultural Policy: A course that gives you insight into the role of government agencies and how federal and state policies affect decision-making related to agriculture and food.
Agricultural Law: A course that offers a comprehensive understanding of the legal principles, regulations and policies that govern the agricultural industry.
Ag Business Program Faculty
Learn ag business from faculty who have navigated agricultural markets, managed agricultural enterprises and analyzed agricultural policy. Their industry connections become your networking opportunities, giving you an edge in the job market.