by our College Data Analytics Team
[Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/applied-horticulture-horticulture-operations-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 184 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study applied horticulture/horticulture operations affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, no school beat Williamson College Of The Trades this year. Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Media. In-state tuition and fees average $31,611. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Saddleback College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #5 place for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #6 for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #8 position for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $8,142. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $7,972. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #10 spot for applied horticulture/horticulture operations value this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #11 spot for applied horticulture/horticulture operations value this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College placed #12 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Located in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $6,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $8,691. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $68,077. That is a strong return on a $8,691 median debt.
Palo Alto College placed #13 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College placed #14 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,516 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $17,619 in student loans. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College came in at #16 for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins earned the #17 position for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,448, while out-of-state students pay about $6,016. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $11,693. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $39,765. That is a strong return on a $11,693 median debt.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #18 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $19,695. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Diablo Valley College earned the #19 position for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College came in at #20 for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District placed #21 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #22 among the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Sinclair Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Lanier Technical College came in at #25 for value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,980, while out-of-state students pay about $7,190. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Lanier Technical College earn a median of $37,118 early in their careers. Set against $12,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s applied horticulture/horticulture operations value ranking:
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations. See all related rankings.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 184 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.