[Horticultural Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/horticultural-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 61 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value horticultural science schools.
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Finding the Best Value Horticultural Science School for You
The right horticultural science school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Horticultural Science Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Horticultural Science Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for horticultural science in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $12,281. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $51,815. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticultural science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $12,059. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for horticultural science. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for horticultural science. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $47,698. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticultural science, landing the #5 spot this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $19,026. Horticultural Science graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,026 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University earned the #6 position for value in horticultural science this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $17,539 in student loans. Horticultural Science graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $47,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Utah State University landed the #7 spot for horticultural science value this year. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $28,091. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls placed #8 among the best values for horticultural science. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $48,791. Set against $22,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Idaho placed #9 among the best values for horticultural science. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Horticultural Science graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $44,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #10 position for value in horticultural science this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $16,666. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $61,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #11 spot for horticultural science value this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $19,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $47,910. That is a strong return on a $19,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez earned the #12 position for value in horticultural science this year. Located in the city of Mayaguez, University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,274. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $9,200 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $30,053. That is a strong return on a $9,200 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Mississippi State University came in at #13 for value in horticultural science this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $20,311. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $45,994. That is a strong return on a $20,311 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #14 for value in horticultural science this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $23,818. Horticultural Science graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $42,939 early in their careers. Set against $23,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in horticultural science this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $49,048. That is a strong return on a $25,153 median debt. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #16 for value in horticultural science this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $22,156 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $42,008. That is a strong return on a $22,156 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #17 for value in horticultural science this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $22,337. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $50,993. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #18 spot for horticultural science value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $21,813. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value horticultural science schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,391 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $35,216. Set against $15,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #20 spot for horticultural science value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $47,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kentucky earned the #21 position for value in horticultural science this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $24,094. Horticultural Science graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Arkansas came in at #22 for value in horticultural science this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $52,555. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Morrisville State College landed the #23 spot for horticultural science value this year. Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Morrisville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $19,245. Students borrow a median of $20,290 to complete the horticultural science program here. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from Morrisville State College generally make around $41,207. Set against $20,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morrisville State College admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute came in at #24 for value in horticultural science this year. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Wooster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,584, while out-of-state students pay about $36,362. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $11,717. Horticultural Science graduates of Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earn a median of $34,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,717 median debt.
Kansas State University earned the #25 position for value in horticultural science this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $21,905. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $50,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 41 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for horticultural science this year:
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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 37 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).
[Horticultural Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/horticultural-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
