2026 Best Value Turf & Turfgrass Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Turf & Turfgrass Management](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/turf-and-turfgrass-management/) 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 11 schools to find the best return on investment for turf & turfgrass management students.
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2026 Best Value Turf & Turfgrass Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the turf & turfgrass management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Turf & Turfgrass Management Schools
Joliet Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among turf & turfgrass management schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the turf & turfgrass management program here. Early-career turf & turfgrass management graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value turf & turfgrass management schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Turf & Turfgrass Management graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career turf & turfgrass management graduates make about $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes College Of Lake County one of the best values for turf & turfgrass management. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Turf & Turfgrass Management graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, turf & turfgrass management degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the best values for turf & turfgrass management. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the turf & turfgrass management program here. Soon after graduation, turf & turfgrass management degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. Set against $17,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in turf & turfgrass management will find it at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,584, compared with $36,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for turf & turfgrass management graduates is $12,000. Early-career turf & turfgrass management graduates make about $34,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot for turf & turfgrass management value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,722 to complete the turf & turfgrass management program here. Soon after graduation, turf & turfgrass management 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
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
