[Botany](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/botany/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for botany students.
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Finding the Best Value Botany School for You
Where you study botany affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Botany 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.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Botany Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for botany in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Botany graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Botany graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for botany. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for botany. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Botany graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Botany graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $40,040. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for botany. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the botany program here. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Humboldt State University landed the #6 spot for botany value this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,397 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Students borrow a median of $19,129 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $30,713. Set against $19,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $20,577. Botany graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $48,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #8 position for value in botany this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of California Davis ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $14,404. Early-career botany graduates make about $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Mississippi State University placed #10 among the best values for botany. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Botany graduates carry a median of $23,969 in student loans. Botany graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $47,383 early in their careers. Set against $23,969 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #11 position for value in botany this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $21,813. Botany graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $33,009. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Oregon State University placed #13 among the best values for botany. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $51,000. Set against $24,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Botany graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Vermont came in at #15 for value in botany this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Botany graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $44,588. Set against $22,607 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #16 spot for botany value this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the botany program here. Botany graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #17 position for value in botany this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the botany program here. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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).
[Botany](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/botany/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
