2026 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plant sciences students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the plant sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Plant Sciences Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among plant sciences schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $12,281. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $51,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for plant sciences. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. 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. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in plant sciences will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #3. 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, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $47,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
West Virginia University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $37,454. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in plant sciences will find it at Arkansas State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $49,536. That is a strong return on a $15,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Mississippi State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $20,311. Soon after graduation, plant sciences 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.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #7 among the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,156 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $42,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,156 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky came in at #8 for value in plant sciences this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Arkansas earned the #9 position for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $52,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee placed #10 among the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,564 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $40,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #11 among the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $21,348. Plant Sciences graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $49,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,348 median debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Clemson University earned the #12 position for value in plant sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,724 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $46,395. Set against $21,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #13 among the best values for plant sciences. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,687 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $42,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $44,818. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
