2027 Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/applied-horticulture-horticulture-operations-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied horticulture/horticulture operations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools.
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2027 Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations Schools
For return on investment in applied horticulture/horticulture operations, no school beat College Of Western Idaho this year. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Students borrow a median of $12,497 to complete the applied horticulture/horticulture operations program here. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $40,963.
Pickens Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, with out-of-state students paying around $9,250. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $10,250. Early-career applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates make about $35,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Front Range Community College one of the best values for applied horticulture/horticulture operations. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $14,000. Applied Horticulture/horticulture Operations graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $28,703 early in their careers. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value applied horticulture/horticulture operations schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for applied horticulture/horticulture operations graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, applied horticulture/horticulture operations degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,005. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.