Program Overview

Program Course Delivery
Agricultural Business - Major On-Campus & Online
Agricultural Business - Minor On-Campus & Online
Agricultural Business - Certificate On-Campus & Online

Online program details

Explore the Agricultural Business Program

Combine your agriculture experience and savvy business mind in this unique program. The agricultural business program prepares the next workforce for the challenging, ever-evolving agriculture industry by diving into business topics in sales, marketing, management, finance, information technology, and production, all through the lens of agriculture. This degree covers it all and will get you going toward a local, regional, or global career.

Agricultural Business is a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Agricultural Business Major

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This program blends a strong base of agriculture, business, and general education courses while maximizing flexibility, which allows students to choose electives to fit their career interests and expectations. A wide array of challenging, satisfying, and rewarding careers await graduates as demand for trained professionals in agribusiness continues to outpace the supply of qualified graduates. Clusters of employment opportunities include agricultural sales and marketing, agribusiness management, agribusiness finance, agribusiness information management, food marketing management, global agribusiness, and rural economic development.

Program Outcomes

Upon graduation, those who complete the program will have the ability to:

  • Create and present a strategic agribusiness plan that incorporates market analysis, risk analysis, and financial analysis.
  • Select and apply investment analysis techniques and interpret results.
  • Construct, interpret, and analyze a set of coordinated financial statements, consisting of balance sheets, income statements, and statements of cash flow.
  • Use spreadsheets, computerized record keeping, and financial analysis software.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the interconnections between production, sales, and the consumption of food and fiber.
  • Evaluate the impact of cash forward contracts, commodity futures, and option contracts on the buying/selling prices of commodities.

Agricultural Business Major Courses

Online Agricultural Business Minor

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The agricultural business minor gives students a broad understanding of marketing techniques, livestock and grain commodities, financing, and economics of agriculture. This minor complements many of the agriculture-based and business-based majors because students learn valuable information regardless of whether they work in lending, consulting, sales, or run their own business.

Agricultural Business Minor Courses

Online Agricultural Business Certification

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The agricultural business certificate gives students a broad understanding of marketing techniques, livestock and grain commodities, financing, and economics of agriculture. This certificate provides students valuable information and skills regardless of whether they work in lending, consulting, sales, or run their own business.

Agricultural Business Certification Courses

Program Description

This program is flexible and can work in agronomy, agricultural systems management, animal science, equine science, finance, accounting, management, marketing, or communication.

The program blends a strong base of agriculture, business, and general education courses while maximizing flexibility, allowing students to choose electives that fit their career interests and expectations.

The program boasts a unique blend of hands-on training along with theory.

Employment opportunities include agricultural sales and marketing, agribusiness management, agribusiness finance, agribusiness information management, food marketing management, global agribusiness, and rural economic development.

This program provides many opportunities for students to compete in the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) organization on campus. In NACTA, students have chances to compete in agricultural business contests, which feature multiple choice questionnaires, case study problems, and finance tests. 

Students have secured internship opportunities with businesses like Black Gold Farms, CHS, ADM, Wilbur-Ellis, USDA-FSA, AgCountry, Titan Machinery, Winfield, University of Minnesota Extension, and more! 

Awards & Accreditation

The University of Minnesota Crookston is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Student Experiences

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Average Cost After Aid

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$13,436

Average amount of grants & scholarships received (2022-2023 data)

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$12,894

Average net price after grants &
scholarships (2021-2022 data)

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$22,883

Average TOTAL student loan debt after
graduation (2022-2023)

Scholarship and Funding Options

The University of Minnesota Crookston provides quick and easy access to over $1 million worth of scholarship opportunities for new and returning students!

Your Future Professors

Christina Bacon
Teaching Specialist
Oybek Turayev
Assistant Professor

What is Campus Life Like?

Residential Life

University of Minnesota Crookston's residence halls are ranked #1 public college dorms in Minnesota by Niche. The residential halls are clean, safe, spacious and modern. There is a mix of traditional style rooms, suites, and apartments available on-campus which include amenities such as ensuite bathrooms, walk-closets, and full size kitchens with all major appliances. There are also beautiful common spaces in every residential building that are great places to hangout, play games, study, or relax. Schedule a tour to see for yourself why they're ranked #1!

Students gathered together playing cards in their dorm room located in Centennial Hall.
Photo of a dorm room in Evergreen Hall
Living room in Heritage Hall.
A photo of a dorm room in McCall Hall
A photo of a dorm room in Skyberg Hall
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Student Stories

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Roseline "Rose" Kanssole - Ag Business Major and Cross-Country Athlete

Roseline "Rose" Kanssole of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (West Africa), shares her story as an agricultural business major and cross-country athlete at UMN Crookston.