2026 Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools in the Southwest Region
[Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/applied-horticulture-horticulture-operations-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied horticulture/horticulture operations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for applied horticulture/horticulture operations students.
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2026 Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools
Western Texas College tops our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. Students borrow a median of $8,691 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations will find it at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $15,148. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Lee College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $10,941. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Connors State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Warner, Connors State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, compared with $7,530 for out-of-state students. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $16,071 in student loans. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $47,964. That is a strong return on a $16,071 median debt.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #6 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,422 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $41,341. That is a strong return on a $18,422 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
