2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for horticulture students.
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2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticulture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
For return on investment in horticulture, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,749 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $26,238. That is a strong return on a $12,749 median debt. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Front Range Community College, which ranked #2. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $28,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
Utah State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #3 spot this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Provo earned it the #4 place for horticulture. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for horticulture. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $22,843. Horticulture graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,005 early in their careers. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
