by our College Data Analytics Team
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong horticulture education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 284 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for horticulture students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticulture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Williamson College Of The Trades, our #1 best value for horticulture in the United States. Located in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Saddleback College one of the best values for horticulture. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $5,707. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trident Technical College earned it the #3 place for horticulture. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. 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.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,861. Horticulture graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Metropolitan Community College Area, which ranked #5. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $12,799. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $45,583. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
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Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #6 spot for horticulture value this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College earned the #7 position for value in horticulture this year. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $6,150. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $8,691 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #8 for value in horticulture this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College earned the #9 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $9,430. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College placed #10 among the best values for horticulture. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #11 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage came in at #12 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $12,492. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District earned the #13 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Spokane Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $16,486 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $39,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #15 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College placed #16 among the best values for horticulture. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $38,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyamaca College came in at #17 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Cuyamaca College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,346, while out-of-state students pay about $11,314. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,435.
Lee College landed the #18 spot for horticulture value this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spartanburg Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $29,260 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,148 median debt.
Foothill College placed #20 among the best values for horticulture. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,595. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #21 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $10,388. Horticulture graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Niagara County Community College earned the #22 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $13,970. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. That is a strong return on a $13,970 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #23 for value in horticulture this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $40,126. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Fullerton College placed #24 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.
Clackamas Community College came in at #25 for value in horticulture this year. Clackamas Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Oregon City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,345, while out-of-state students pay about $14,265. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,915 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Clackamas Community College generally make around $31,280. That is a strong return on a $13,915 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s horticulture value ranking:
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Explore the best-value horticulture schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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 · 284 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.