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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value horticulture schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in horticulture, no school beat Williamson College Of The Trades this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,611. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University World Campus one of the best values for horticulture. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology one of the best values for horticulture. Set in the suburb of Media, Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,850. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $22,631. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Pennsylvania Institute Of Technology generally make around $40,998. That is a strong return on a $22,631 median debt.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. In-state tuition and fees average $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $30,185. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for horticulture. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.