2026 Best Value Botany Schools in the Southeast Region

[Botany](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/botany/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for botany students.
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2026 Best Value Botany Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in botany, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Botany Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for botany in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $17,669. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for botany. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $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. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Mississippi State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,969 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $47,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #4 place for botany. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Botany graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $33,009. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% 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 · 5 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.