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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 71 schools to find the best return on investment for horticulture students.
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 Trident Technical College this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. 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.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Florida Gateway College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Students borrow a median of $8,669 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $41,947 early in their careers. Set against $8,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #5 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. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for horticulture. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $16,909. 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.
Wayne Community College came in at #7 for value in horticulture this year. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $5,500. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $33,116. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #8 position for value in horticulture this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $9,616. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #9 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #10 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. 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. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins came in at #11 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, while out-of-state students pay about $6,016. 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. Set against $11,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Fear Community College earned the #12 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $42,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College earned the #13 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,967. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lanier Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $3,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Lanier Technical College generally make around $37,118. Set against $12,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #15 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the town of Tifton, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, compared with $10,588 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College generally make around $44,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #17 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $38,094. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #18 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $29,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #19 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College placed #20 among the best values for horticulture. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,001. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $35,627. Set against $14,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Augusta Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $41,892. Set against $11,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sandhills Community College earned the #22 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,648. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,238 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,492. That is a strong return on a $9,238 median debt.
Brunswick Community College placed #23 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the rural area of Bolivia, Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,553 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,697 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Brunswick Community College earn a median of $47,493 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Valencia College landed the #24 spot for horticulture value this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $42,786. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Technical College earned the #25 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $17,652. Horticulture graduates of Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $36,577 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools also delivered strong value for horticulture this year:
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This ranking is produced 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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.