Texas A&M University - Department Agricultural Economics

What Texas A&M University - Department Agricultural Economics does

Texas A&M University's Department of Agricultural Economics is a public academic department founded in 1922 within the Texas A&M AgriLife system, delivering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across seven degree programs (B.S. Agribusiness, B.S. Agricultural Economics with four concentration options, B.S. Financial Planning, Master of Agribusiness, M.S. Agricultural Economics thesis/non-thesis, and Ph.D. Agricultural Economics) to approximately 1,800+ enrolled students. The department operates four research centers and laboratories — the Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center (AFCERC), Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Center for North American Studies, and Human Behavior Laboratory — producing applied research on commodity markets, food policy, trade, and consumer behavior. Departmental expertise is delivered to Texas farmers, ranchers, and policymakers through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which maintains a presence in every Texas county via regional research and extension centers.

The department's revenue model is structurally public-sector: tuition and fees from degree programs, state appropriations, research grants and contracts from federal/state/industry sources, and extension service funding. Pricing follows the Texas A&M University System schedules, with separate rates for Texas residents and non-residents. Distribution channels include the College Station main campus, the Higher Education Center at McAllen, and 11+ AgriLife Research and Extension Centers statewide. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-student through dedicated recruiting teams, campus visits, and recruitment events, supplemented by AgriLife Today news media and the department's official website (agecon.tamu.edu). The department is led by Department Head Dr. Simon Somogyi, with associate heads covering extension (Steven Klose), research and graduate programs (Yu Yvette Zhang), and undergraduate operations (Kaitlyn Weber). It is currently ranked #1 in Texas and #2 in the USA for Agricultural Economics & Business Schools by College Factual (2025).

Name

Texas A&M University - Department Agricultural Economics

Legal name

Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics

Website

https://agecon.tamu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University is a public academic department offering seven undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs to 1,800+ students, supported by four research centers and the statewide Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Agricultural Economics)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOAOAN

Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Agriculture, Horticulture & Skilled Trades

SECONDARYEDAOAOAA

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Agriculture, Horticulture & Skilled Trades

SECONDARYEDABALAA

Agriculture & Food Production

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

Keywords

• Agricultural economics education
• Agribusiness degree programs
• Applied economic research
• Agricultural extension services
• Commodity policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

College Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs including B.S. Agribusiness, B.S. Agricultural Economics, Master of Agribusiness, M.S. Agricultural Economics, and Ph.D. Agricultural Economics.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from federal, state, and industry sources to support research activities across agricultural economics domains including commodity markets, food policy, environmental economics, and international trade.
3. Extension Services: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides educational outreach and technical assistance to Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses, funded through state appropriations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Agricultural Economics delivers higher education degree programs (B.S. Agribusiness, B.S. Agricultural Economics with four concentration options, B.S. Financial Planning, Master of Agribusiness, M.S. Agricultural Economics thesis/non-thesis, and Ph.D. Agricultural Economics) alongside specialized programs such as the Rister Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and Weston AgriFood Sales Program. It operates 4 research centers and labs producing applied economic research in commodity markets, food policy, consumer behavior, and trade, and delivers statewide extension education and technical assistance to Texas agricultural producers through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Product overview

The Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research services. The department provides 7 degree programs spanning undergraduate (B.S. Agribusiness, B.S. Agricultural Economics with 4 concentration options, B.S. Financial Planning), graduate (Master of Agribusiness, M.S. Agricultural Economics thesis and non-thesis options, Ph.D. Agricultural Economics), and specialized programs including the Dianne and M. Edward Rister '74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and Weston AgriFood Sales Program. The department operates 4 research centers including the Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center (AFCERC), Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Center for North American Studies, and Human Behavior Laboratory. Extension services include the Master Marketer Program and statewide outreach through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, providing risk management education and technical assistance to Texas agricultural producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Texas A&M AgriLife: A member organization bringing together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System

Products and services

• B.S. Agribusiness Undergraduate bachelor's degree program preparing students for careers in agribusiness management, sales, and agricultural operations.
• B.S. Agricultural Economics Comprehensive undergraduate degree with multiple concentration options including Finance and Real Estate, Food Marketing Systems, Policy and Economic Analysis, and Rural Entrepreneurship.
• B.S. Financial Planning Undergraduate degree program focused on financial planning, wealth management, and financial counseling careers.
• Master of Agribusiness (MAB) Professional master's degree program focused on agribusiness management, agricultural finance, and food supply chain management.
• M.S. Agricultural Economics - Thesis Option Research-focused master's degree with thesis requirement in agricultural economics.
• M.S. Agricultural Economics - Non-Thesis Option Coursework-intensive master's degree option in agricultural economics without thesis requirement.
• Ph.D. Agricultural Economics Doctoral research degree preparing students for academic careers and advanced research positions in agricultural economics.
• Dianne and M. Edward Rister '74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program Specialized program focused on entrepreneurship in agribusiness, providing students with skills to launch and manage agricultural ventures.
• Weston AgriFood Sales Program Professional development program focused on sales skills and techniques specific to the agricultural and food industry.
• Dual B.S. Agricultural Economics and MPSA Program Combined undergraduate and master's program allowing students to earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe.
• Undergraduate Honors Program Enhanced academic program for high-achieving undergraduates with research opportunities and advanced coursework.
• Human Behavior Laboratory Research laboratory conducting experimental economics and consumer behavior studies within the agricultural economics domain.
• Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center (AFCERC) Research center focused on commodity markets, agribusiness, food policy, and consumer economics research.
• Agricultural and Food Policy Center Policy research center analyzing agricultural and food policy impacts for Texas and the nation.
• Center for North American Studies Center providing analysis of North American agricultural trade, policy, and economic impacts.
• Texas A&M Center for Coffee Research and Education Center focused on coffee industry research, sustainability, and education programs.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Statewide outreach program providing agricultural economics education, risk management training, and technical assistance to Texas producers and communities.
• Master Marketer Program Comprehensive risk management education program teaching marketing strategies and price risk management to agricultural producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 356 undergraduate graduates in May (record largest graduating class)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas A&M AgriLifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab) focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across Texas, AgriLife is the largest comprehensive agriculture program nationally.
• College of Agriculture & Life SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe College of Agriculture & Life Sciences is the academic college within Texas A&M AgriLife that houses the Department of Agricultural Economics. Students benefit from the college's broad range of agricultural and life sciences programs and resources.
• Texas A&M AgriLife ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch arm of Texas A&M AgriLife that conducts agricultural research. Faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics collaborate with AgriLife Research scientists on food, agriculture, economics and policy research.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtension arm that delivers research-based educational programs to Texans. The department's extension specialists provide expertise to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses across all Texas counties.
• Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSatellite educational facility where the department delivers its B.S. Agricultural Economics program, expanding access to students in South Texas through the Higher Education Center at McAllen.
• International Institute of Tropical AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn affiliate of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. Professor Victoria Salin serves on the Board and works with entrepreneurial ventures to commercialize agricultural technologies to enhance food security in Africa.
• World Coffee ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Victoria Salin serves as Chair of the Research Advisory Committee and member of the Finance Committee for World Coffee Research, supporting international agricultural development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kansas State University - Department of Agricultural Economics: Land-grant department with extension-driven applied research in commodity markets, agribusiness, and farm management. Directly comparable in mission, geographic emphasis on agriculture, and extension integration.
• Iowa State University - Department of Economics / College of Agriculture: Land-grant agricultural and applied economics program with strong extension integration and commodity-markets research. Closely comparable in structure, audience, and policy relevance.
• Ohio State University - Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics: Land-grant program offering agricultural economics degrees with applied and policy research. Comparable in degree mix, research centers, and extension mission.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln - Department of Agricultural Economics: Public land-grant agricultural economics department emphasizing farm management, agribusiness, and policy. Highly comparable in curriculum, extension ties, and student audience.
• University of California, Davis - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics: Leading agricultural and resource economics program emphasizing policy, trade, and environmental economics. Competes directly in the same national rankings space and research funding pools.
• Purdue University - Department of Agricultural Economics: Top-ranked U.S. land-grant agricultural economics program offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in agribusiness and applied economics. Directly comparable as a peer in rankings, mission, and degree portfolio.
• University of Missouri - Division of Applied Social Sciences (Agricultural Economics): Land-grant agricultural economics program with extension integration and applied policy research. Comparable as a peer institution in size, mission, and stakeholder base.
• Michigan State University - Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics: Land-grant agricultural economics department with strong applied research and extension programs. Overlapping faculty specialty areas, degree programs, and stakeholder base.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Agricultural & Consumer Economics: Long-standing agricultural economics department offering agribusiness, finance, and consumer economics concentrations. Directly competes for the same students and faculty in ag economics rankings.
• Cornell University - Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management: Ivy League applied economics program with concentrations in agribusiness and food industry management. Comparable in offering agribusiness-focused graduate and undergraduate education with strong industry placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-a-m-agriculture-economics-undergraduate-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Texas A&M University - Department Agricultural Economics