Plant Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 164 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for plant sciences students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Plant Sciences School
Where you study plant sciences matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Plant Sciences Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Plant Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. 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 Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for plant sciences. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 52 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full plant sciences program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong plant sciences program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 48 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $63,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,666.
See the full plant sciences program report 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. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 69 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from California State University Fresno earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for California State University Fresno
University Of California Davis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in plant sciences, ranking #4. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $43,873 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for University Of California Davis
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #6 for plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 10 plant sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $40,920 in the first couple years of their career. 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
Iowa State University placed #7 among the best plant sciences schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 147 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $61,550. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for Iowa State University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #8 among the best plant sciences schools. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 45 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Texas Tech University placed #9 among the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 69 plant sciences degrees 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. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Texas Tech University
University Of Florida came in at #10 for plant sciences this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 121 plant sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of Florida earn around $51,815 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
California State University Chico landed the #11 spot for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 31 plant sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Plant Sciences graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $43,944 early in their careers. 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
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #12 for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 17 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for Chippewa Valley Technical College
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 30 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $45,411 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for plant sciences this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 54 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $42,712 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,911 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Georgia ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 79 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $47,698 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for University Of Georgia
Cornell University placed #16 among the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 51 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $32,236 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,990 in student loans.
Get the full plant sciences details for Cornell University
University Of Arkansas earned the #17 position for plant sciences this year. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of Arkansas awarded about 33 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $52,555 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for University Of Arkansas
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. About 59% of students finish within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 32 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $49,032. Students borrow a median of $14,622 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for California State University Monterey Bay
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #19 position for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $46,627 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,983 to complete this degree.
Get the full plant sciences details for University Of Missouri Columbia
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. About 14 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in the most recent year. Plant Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earn a median of $34,898 early in their careers. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $11,717 in student loans.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Kansas State University came in at #21 for plant sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 96 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $50,115. Typical student debt for the program is $21,905.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Kansas State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #22 among the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 55 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Plant Sciences graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $42,861 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,687.
Get the full plant sciences details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 100 plant sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $42,008. 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
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #24 spot for plant sciences this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from Pennsylvania Western University
Washington State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 39 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $47,531. Students borrow a median of $17,539 to complete this degree.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Washington State University
Rest of the Top 50 Plant Sciences Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong plant sciences education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 164 schools evaluated.
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).
