by our College Data Analytics TeamPlant Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their plant sciences programs.
College Factual analyzed 164 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best plant sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
See the highest-ranked plant sciences schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in plant sciences. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 47 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Read more about the plant sciences program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 plant sciences degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $63,129. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $16,666 in student loans. Get the full plant sciences details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Fresno is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in plant sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 63 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $60,443 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the plant sciences program at California State University Fresno
University Of California Davis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 54 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $43,873. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree. See the full plant sciences program report for University Of California Davis
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for plant sciences. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 17 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Read more about the plant sciences program at Purdue University Main Campus
Iowa State University landed the #6 spot for plant sciences this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Iowa State University awarded about 108 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $49,393 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. More information about a degree in plant sciences from Iowa State University
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #7 position for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 10 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $40,920 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,559 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in plant sciences from University Of California Santa Cruz
California State University Chico landed the #8 spot for plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 31 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $43,944 in their early career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. See the full plant sciences program report for California State University Chico
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #9 among the best plant sciences schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 plant sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $45,411 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in plant sciences from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 51 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $42,712. Typical student debt for the program is $16,105. See the full plant sciences program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #11 position for plant sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Seaside. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 32 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $49,032. Typical student debt for the program is $14,622. More information about a degree in plant sciences from California State University Monterey Bay
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 36 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $46,627 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $17,983 in student loans. Get the full plant sciences details for University Of Missouri Columbia
Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 38 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $32,236. Typical student debt for the program is $15,990. Read more about the plant sciences program at Cornell University
Kansas State University earned the #14 position for plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $50,115 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,905 to complete this degree. Get the full plant sciences details for Kansas State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 42 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $42,861. Students borrow a median of $20,687 to complete this degree. Read more about the plant sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Florida placed #16 among the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of Florida earn around $36,372 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 62 plant sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $42,008 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,156 in student loans. Read more about the plant sciences program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Texas Tech University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 40 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271. Get the full plant sciences details for Texas Tech University
Texas A And M University College Station placed #19 among the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 40 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $45,163. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $21,654 in student loans. More information about a degree in plant sciences from Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. About 67% of students finish within six years. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 50 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $47,716 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Get the full plant sciences details for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
University Of Georgia came in at #21 for plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 62 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $40,794 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. More information about a degree in plant sciences from University Of Georgia
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #22 position for plant sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 26 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $46,152 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500. More information about a degree in plant sciences from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Washington State University placed #23 among the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $47,531 in their early career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $17,539 in student loans. See the full plant sciences program report for Washington State University
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #24 for plant sciences this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Wisconsin River Falls awarded about 27 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $48,791 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Wisconsin River Falls
University Of Arizona landed the #25 spot for plant sciences this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 10 plant sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of Arizona earn around $50,834 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,861. See the full plant sciences program report for University Of Arizona
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s plant sciences ranking:
Explore the best plant sciences schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 164 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
