Northwest among best value in nation, top-ranked in Missouri for agriculture

Northwest Missouri State University is the best in Missouri when it comes to the value of an agriculture program and earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, according to a report released by College Factual, a source for insights and analytics in U.S. higher education.

The report ranks Northwest No. 5 nationally among the best value agriculture programs. Additionally, it ranks Northwest No. 2 in the state for its programs in agriculture and agriculture operations.

College Factual determined its rankings by using objective data such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources. In its profile of the University, College Factual cites Northwest’s 19-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and its freshman retention rate of 76 percent.

“This provides some data for students to take a look at to help make decisions,” Dr. Rod Barr, the director of Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences, said. “Anytime we can provide students with data – whether it’s from us or from external sources – to help them make decisions, that’s beneficial.”

When Audrey Belfield, a sophomore agricultural business major from La Plata, Missouri, was looking for a place to further her education and attain her career goals, she was attracted to Northwest’s homey feel and the array of profession-based learning opportunities and co-curricular experiences it offers.

“One of my favorite things about the ag business program is the connection that you are able to make with your professors,” Belfield said. “With smaller class sizes, you are really able to have that one-on-one help with your professors throughout the semester. I find this helpful when learning new information, working on homework and even when looking for new job opportunities. Throughout the agricultural sciences department, all professors and faculty work hard to make that personal connection with all students, making it feel like we aren’t just a number.”

After completing her degree, Belfield wants to pursue a career as a loan officer, assisting farmers, ranchers and production agriculturists on the financial side of the industry.

“Throughout our classes at Northwest, we are not only learning information to help us with our future careers but also the skills it takes to be successful in the workforce,” Belfield said. “Opportunities such as mock interviews allow us to gain the skills needed to succeed post-graduation. Classes also allow us to develop those skills of professionalism that we will later implement in our future careers.”

About the School of Agricultural Sciences

Headquartered in the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation, Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences offers bachelor’s programs in agricultural business, agricultural education, agricultural media, agricultural science, agronomy and animal science, among others. Degree programs are complemented by profession-based learning opportunities at the University’s R.T. Wright Farm, Agricultural Learning Center and McKemy Center for Lifelong Learning.

Renovated in 2023, the McKemy Center serves as a hub for Northwest’s agribusiness program. It features Power Wave C300 portable multi-process wire feeder welders with high-end functionality capable of Stick, DC TIG, MIG, Pulsed MIG and Flux-Cored welding. It also is equipped with a VRTEX virtual reality welding training simulator that promotes the transfer of welding skills and body positioning while reducing waste associated with traditional welding training.

A horticulture complex includes classrooms, a research laboratory, preparatory room and a growth chamber to stimulate any type of growing environment. Seven greenhouses feature state-of-the-art technology and are heated with circulating water.

The 448-acre R.T. Wright Farm employs a farm manager, species herdsmen and University students who manage a beef herd composed of Angus and Charolais cattle with a dairy herd of Jersey, Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle. A farrow-to-finish swine operation also gives students opportunities to explore the pork industry. The University grows corn and soybeans in addition to several acres of alfalfa and grass hay. Research is conducted for soil analysis and global positioning.

Located at the Wright Farm, the 29,500-square-foot Agricultural Learning Center opened in 2021 as a multipurpose building with classrooms and laboratories as well as exposition, kitchen and office spaces. The facility offers opportunities for constituencies throughout the region to foster innovative learning for students, applied research and partnership in addition to creating economic, educational, cultural and social engagement activities related to food and agriculture. Beginning in 2025, the Agricultural Learning Center will house a micro-creamery to process raw milk into consumable dairy products.

“Northwest truly has so much to offer students,” Belfield said. “You can choose your own path and get involved in organizations that interest you. Northwest has so many opportunities to explore as you prepare for your future career. Everyone is supporting you in your future endeavors, and it is truly a home away from home.”

For more information about the School of Agriculture Sciences and its programs, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ag/.

About Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their University experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.

Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data. 

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitively low tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.

Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which saves students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. 

For more information about Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.