2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for horticulture students.
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2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
For return on investment in horticulture, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Louis Community College earned it the #2 place for horticulture. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $38,999. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $35,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $52,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Lakes College Brainerd earned it the #5 place for horticulture. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,479. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $44,264. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College landed the #6 spot for horticulture value this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,473. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
Linn State Technical College earned the #7 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $45,538. That is a strong return on a $11,042 median debt.
Southeast Technical Institute earned the #8 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $18,442 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Southeast Technical Institute earn a median of $48,654 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #9 among the best values for horticulture. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $24,998 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for value in horticulture this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
