Monmouth College adds agribusiness, finance majors added to meet evolving student, workforce demand

by Keri Dodson

Monmouth, Ill. (08/17/2026) — Monmouth College is expanding its academic offerings to meet evolving student interests, workforce needs and opportunities in the region and beyond, adding two new majors, agribusiness management and finance, that will welcome their first students in the fall of 2027.

The new programs reflect the college's commitment to ensuring that a Monmouth education remains relevant to the world students are preparing to enter while staying rooted in the college's strengths as a small liberal arts institution.

"One of our responsibilities as a college is to continually ask what our students need to be successful today, and in the careers and communities they will enter tomorrow," said Monmouth President Patricia Draves. "These new majors are examples of Monmouth responding to that responsibility. They expand the choices available to our students while connecting the strengths of a Monmouth education with areas of significant opportunity in the workforce."

Understanding the agricultural industry

Agribusiness management will apply broadly applicable business and technology principles to the specific issues of modern agriculture and the complex business systems that support it.

Monmouth's location in the heart of one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions provides a natural setting for the program. West central Illinois is home to a broad network of farms, agricultural suppliers, financial institutions, equipment manufacturers, grain and livestock operations, transportation and logistics companies, and other businesses that support the agricultural economy.

"The people who lead farms and agribusinesses today are making decisions involving data, technology, markets, logistics, government policy and global forces," said Michael Connell, business and economics professor and chair of the college's School of Business. "Our students will have the opportunity to combine a strong business foundation with an understanding of the agricultural industry."

The need for professionals who understand both agriculture and business is especially relevant in the Midwest, where agriculture and related industries continue to face workforce shortages, technological change and increasingly complex management demands.

"It's great to see Monmouth College expanding with agriculture-focused majors, giving future graduates even more opportunities to explore careers throughout the ag industry," said Justin Martin, a 2007 Monmouth graduate serving as a senior certified appraiser for Compeer Financial.

Rapidly changing world of finance

Finance will prepare students for careers in a field that increasingly demands both technical expertise and the ability to think critically, communicate clearly and make complex decisions.

The major will provide students with a foundation in financial analysis, accounting, economics, investment and portfolio management, budgeting, and capital planning while preparing them to navigate an industry shaped by technology, data and artificial intelligence.

Students will have opportunities to apply what they learn through hands-on experiences such as a student-managed investment fund, internships and professional connections.

"Finance is changing rapidly, and today's employers need people who can analyze complex information, recognize risk, communicate their conclusions and make sound decisions," said Connell. "That combination of technical expertise and broad, adaptable thinking is exactly where a Monmouth education can make a difference."

"That combination is also increasingly valuable in the financial industry," said Paul Smith '99, a Monmouth graduate who manages assets on behalf of institutional investors at Northern Trust in Chicago. "A finance major paired with a liberal arts education is an attractive combination. The financial industry values people who can communicate effectively, collaborate with people from different backgrounds, and solve problems across different areas of a company. Those are skills that cannot be easily outsourced or replaced by AI."

Both programs reflect Monmouth's commitment to preparing students for success by pairing focused professional preparation with the broader skills of a liberal arts education.

Starting with the Fall 2027 semester, both incoming students and eligible, current Monmouth students will be able to purse the agribusiness management or finance majors. More information about the programs is available at https://www.monmouthcollege.edu/academics/majors-minors/

Media Attachments