2026 Best Value L&scaping & Groundskeeping Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in l&scaping & groundskeeping, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value L&scaping & Groundskeeping Schools
Cuyahoga Community College District tops our 2026 list of the best value l&scaping & groundskeeping schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates is $14,636. Early-career l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates make about $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in l&scaping & groundskeeping, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $25,830 for out-of-state students. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #3 place for l&scaping & groundskeeping. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #4 place for l&scaping & groundskeeping. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes College Of Lake County one of the best values for l&scaping & groundskeeping. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the l&scaping & groundskeeping program here. Early-career l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates make about $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value l&scaping & groundskeeping schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates is $11,889. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College landed the #7 spot for l&scaping & groundskeeping value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the l&scaping & groundskeeping program here. Soon after graduation, l&scaping & groundskeeping degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value l&scaping & groundskeeping schools. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the l&scaping & groundskeeping program here. Early-career l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates make about $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Gateway Technical College landed the #9 spot for l&scaping & groundskeeping value this year. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value l&scaping & groundskeeping schools. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, l&scaping & groundskeeping degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #11 among the best values for l&scaping & groundskeeping. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates is $13,319. Soon after graduation, l&scaping & groundskeeping degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #12 position for value in l&scaping & groundskeeping this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute earned the #13 position for value in l&scaping & groundskeeping this year. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $9,584 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,362 for out-of-state students. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates make about $34,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan State University placed #14 among the best values for l&scaping & groundskeeping. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for l&scaping & groundskeeping graduates is $13,722. L&scaping & Groundskeeping graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $42,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,722 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 · 29 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.
[L&scaping & Groundskeeping](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/landscaping-and-groundskeeping/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
