[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong plant sciences education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 164 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plant sciences students.
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Finding the Best Value Plant Sciences School for You
The plant sciences program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Plant Sciences 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.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Plant Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in plant sciences, no school beat California State University Fresno this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $13,000. Plant Sciences graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Florida one of the best values for plant sciences. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $12,281 to complete the plant sciences program here. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $51,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Treasure Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plant sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Ontario, Treasure Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,795 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of Treasure Valley Community College earn a median of $47,530 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Capital Community College one of the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $12,059. Plant Sciences graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for plant sciences. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #7 spot for plant sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $13,500. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $46,152. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #8 position for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $43,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wyoming landed the #10 spot for plant sciences value this year. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $36,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Utah State University placed #12 among the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $28,091 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Georgia landed the #13 spot for plant sciences value this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $47,698. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Humboldt State University came in at #14 for value in plant sciences this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Students from in state pay about $8,397 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,129 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $44,038. Set against $19,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,779, while out-of-state students pay about $20,379. Students borrow a median of $14,622 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $49,032 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,622 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Washington State University came in at #16 for value in plant sciences this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $17,539. Plant Sciences graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $47,531 early in their careers. Set against $17,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $22,754. Plant Sciences graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,716 early in their careers. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Mitchell Technical Institute ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Mitchell Technical Institute generally make around $47,686. That is a strong return on a $12,730 median debt.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #19 for value in plant sciences this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,125 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,536 early in their careers. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez placed #20 among the best values for plant sciences. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a large public school located in the city of Mayaguez. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,274. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $9,200. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $30,053. Set against $9,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez admits about 56% of applicants.
West Virginia University landed the #21 spot for plant sciences value this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $25,000. Plant Sciences graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $37,454 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Chico came in at #22 for value in plant sciences this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,472, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the plant sciences program here. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $43,944. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Chadron State College landed the #23 spot for plant sciences value this year. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Students borrow a median of $15,989 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $36,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #24 spot for plant sciences value this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $15,789. Plant Sciences graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $48,546 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #25 spot for plant sciences value this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $48,791. Set against $22,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s plant sciences value ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 164 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 65 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).
[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong plant sciences education at a price that pays off.
