2026 Best Value Soil Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Soil Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/soil-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value soil sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Soil Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the soil sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Soil Sciences Schools
For return on investment in soil sciences, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Soil Sciences graduates carry a median of $22,989 in student loans. Soil Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $50,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,989 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great value for students pursuing a degree in soil sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for soil sciences graduates is $23,730. Soon after graduation, soil sciences degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $55,076. That is a strong return on a $23,730 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in soil sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,859 to complete the soil sciences program here. Soil Sciences graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $50,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
