2026 Best Value Plant Genetics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Plant Genetics](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/genetics/plant-genetics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plant genetics students.
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2026 Best Value Plant Genetics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in plant genetics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Plant Genetics Schools
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among plant genetics schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the plant genetics program here. Soon after graduation, plant genetics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $39,052. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #2 place for plant genetics. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for plant genetics graduates is $20,000. Early-career plant genetics graduates make about $38,388. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place for plant genetics. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for plant genetics graduates is $25,125. Plant Genetics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $26,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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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 · 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.
