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2026 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in Missouri

[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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for horticultural science students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in Missouri

2026 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in Missouri

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticultural science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Horticultural Science Schools

1

Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO

$10,611 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,818 Avg Student Debt

$47,885 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Northwest Missouri State University, our #1 best value for horticultural science in Missouri. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $23,818 in student loans. 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.

2

Missouri State University Springfield
Springfield, MO

$9,502 In-State Tuition & Fees

$18,487 Avg Student Debt

$49,827 Median Earnings (10yr)

Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticultural science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,487 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $36,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.

View All Horticultural Science Rankings >

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 · 4 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.