by our College Data Analytics Team
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 284 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for horticulture students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study horticulture affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Horticulture Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Horticulture Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Williamson College Of The Trades earned the #1 spot for value among horticulture schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #2 place for horticulture. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saddleback College earned it the #3 place for horticulture. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Gateway College one of the best values for horticulture. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $8,669. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $41,947. That is a strong return on a $8,669 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
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Wilkes Community College came in at #6 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $18,116. Horticulture graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #8 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #9 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $40,629. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #10 among the best values for horticulture. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $12,799. Horticulture graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College earned the #11 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $8,142. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $7,972. That is a strong return on a $8,142 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #12 position for value in horticulture this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in horticulture this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College came in at #14 for value in horticulture this year. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,150. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $8,691 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #15 spot for horticulture value this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,636. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #16 spot for horticulture value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $5,500. Horticulture graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College landed the #18 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #19 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,516, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $17,619. Horticulture graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College earned the #20 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $29,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #21 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. Set against $16,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins earned the #22 position for value in horticulture this year. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, compared with $6,016 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $39,765. That is a strong return on a $11,693 median debt.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #23 for value in horticulture this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College earned the #24 position for value in horticulture this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $9,205. Horticulture graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College placed #25 among the best values for horticulture. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s horticulture value ranking:
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Horticulture is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 284 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.