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2026 Best Value Plant Genetics Schools

[Plant Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/plant-genetics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong plant genetics education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plant genetics students.

What’s on this page:

• Customize Your Rankings
• Best Value Plant Genetics Schools List
• Narrow by Region

Finding the Best Value Plant Genetics School for You

Where you study plant genetics affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Plant Genetics Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.

Learn more about our methodology

Customize Your Rankings

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Plant Genetics Schools list, to help you choose. 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.

Read more about College Factual’s methodology

2026 Best Value Plant Genetics Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the plant genetics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Plant Genetics Schools

1

Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

$9,992 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,000 Avg Student Debt

$72,424 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 best value for plant genetics in the United States. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Plant Genetics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career plant genetics graduates make about $39,052. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.

2

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

$11,603 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,000 Avg Student Debt

$73,792 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plant genetics, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Plant Genetics graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career plant genetics graduates make about $38,388. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.

3

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

$18,079 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,125 Avg Student Debt

$67,253 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #3 makes Michigan State University one of the best values for plant genetics. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Plant Genetics graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant genetics degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $26,713. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.

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Plant Genetics Related Rankings by Major

Plant Genetics is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.