2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong horticulture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value horticulture schools.
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2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College, our #1 best value for horticulture in the Great Lakes Region. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $33,326. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #2 place for horticulture. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $8,142 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $7,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Cuyahoga Community College District one of the best values for horticulture. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $60,509. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College earned the #6 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage earned the #7 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #8 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $8,478 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $25,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #11 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College earned the #12 position for value in horticulture this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #13 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College earned the #14 position for value in horticulture this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. Set against $14,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #15 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $18,296. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $13,319. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #18 for value in horticulture this year. Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Western Technical College La Cross generally make around $43,479. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #19 spot for horticulture value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. That is a strong return on a $23,730 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute landed the #20 spot for horticulture value this year. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Wooster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,584, compared with $36,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $34,190. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Michigan State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $42,513. That is a strong return on a $13,722 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
