AAS in Entrepreneurial Agriculture

Growing food and starting a business both require creativity, specific skills, and an understanding of how interrelated systems work. In the Entrepreneurial Agriculture program, you'll receive foundational business and horticulture training – as well as gain hands-on experience growing food crops. You'll better understand the way food is grown and distributed so that you can make the supply chain work to your advantage.

After completing this degree, you'll be trained in the fundamentals of food production and business, including:

  • Analyzing and designing food production systems for growing vegetable, fruit, and nut species for the Upper Midwest
  • Propagating, growing, and maintaining plants in agricultural food production systems
  • Applying ecologically sustainable principles in agriculture while maintaining productivity and economic viability
  • Working with hydroponic and aquaponics systems
  • Creating and implementing a business plan, starting a farm business, and scaling operations
  • Foundational concepts in marketing, finance, and sales, including the use of effective communication strategies with suppliers and customers

This degree program is offered in collaboration with the Center for Agrarian Learning.

Contact (815) 455-8750 with specific questions about this program.

(in-district) Total Amount: $8,766.25

Credit Hours to Complete: 61

Weeks to Complete: 80


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Center for Agrarian Learning Events

Sample Semester 1 - Fall 14 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: ENG-105 | ENG-151#3 hrs,HRT-103#4 hrs,AGR-104#3 hrs,BUS-150#3 hrs,MCC-101#1 hr

Sample Semester 2 - Spring 17 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: BUS-160*#3 hrs,BUS-162*#3 hrs,SPE-151#3 hrs,HRT-105#4 hrs,AGR-107#1 hr,Select a Program Elective#3 hrs
*BUS-160 and BUS-162 are staggered 8-week courses

Sample Semester 3 - Summer 3 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: HRT-135#3 hrs

Sample Semester 4 - Fall 13 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: HRT-150#3 hrs,Select a Mathematics Course#3 hrs,MKT-110#3 hrs,AOM-140#3 hrs

Sample Semester 5 - Spring 15 Credit Hours

    COURSE LIST Course Ids: AGR-226#1-3 hrs,Select a Humanities or Fine Arts Course#3 hrs,MKT-130#3 hrs,MKT-240#3 hrs,Select a Program Elective#3 hrs

Career Outlook

Related Programs

What you need to know about getting your AAS in Entrepreneurial Agriculture (CIP 1.0101)

Total AAS in Entrepreneurial Agriculture Costs
Cost in-district out-of-district out-of-state international
Tuition $7,411.5 $20,078.15 $28,226.53 $28,226.53
Additional Costs $1,354.75 $1,354.75 $1,354.75 $1,354.75
Program Total $8,766.25 $21,432.9 $29,581.28 $29,581.28

What makes MCC's AAS in Entrepreneurial Agriculture program better than, or distinct from, similar programs at other institutions?

  • Very few institutions offer a combination of food production training and business training in an AAS degree. Our program provides you an opportunity to gain the broad range of skills that you’ll need to succeed in a career in Entrepreneurial Agriculture
  • You’ll have ample opportunity to work with and learn from local growers and innovators to forge valuable connections and learn real-world skills from professionals.
  • MCC's Advanced Agriculture Internship provides opportunities for in-depth, supervised, hands-on experience in food production either on the MCC campus or on a local farm. Contact Emily Zack for details.

Example architectural and entrepreneurial agriculture careers:

  • Farm ownership
  • Advanced farm operations/management
    • Field, harvest, and/or pack manager
    • Farm mechanic
    • Greenhouse manager
  • Farmers market salesperson
  • Landscape crew
  • Farm-to-table floral production and design
  • Value-added food products and processing
  • Bookkeeping and marketing for farm businesses
  • Regional food distribution
  • Industrial compost or organics recycling
  • On-farm educator or non-profit farm administrator

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Semesters to complete assumes students are taking a full-time credit load of 12 credits per semester (the minimum required for federal financial aid).

Proportion of students completing in normal time is the percentage of completers who earned the credential within the specified time of their first enrollment at the College.

Students attending part-time or changing their program of study are two common reasons why they may not complete in "normal" time.

Tuition and fees are set by the Board of Trustees. Prices for books and supplies are subject to change.

See additional information about international student costs.