by our College Data Analytics Team
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong horticulture education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 53 schools to find the best return on investment for horticulture students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticulture degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in horticulture, no school beat Williamson College Of The Trades this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,611. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trident Technical College earned it the #2 place for horticulture. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Horry Georgetown Technical College earned it the #3 place for horticulture. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $19,172 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $37,387 early in their careers. Set against $19,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Saddleback College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spartanburg Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $10,148. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $29,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #7 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,730 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $17,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #9 spot for horticulture value this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $15,525. Horticulture graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.
Western Texas College came in at #10 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,691 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $68,077. That is a strong return on a $8,691 median debt.
Palo Alto College placed #11 among the best values for horticulture. Palo Alto College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $29,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Community College placed #13 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $39,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College landed the #14 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,151, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,366 ten years after entry.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #15 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,524, while out-of-state students pay about $6,092. Students borrow a median of $18,048 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $39,288. That is a strong return on a $18,048 median debt.
Lee College came in at #16 for value in horticulture this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $12,492. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyamaca College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Cuyamaca College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,346, compared with $11,314 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,435.
Niagara County Community College placed #19 among the best values for horticulture. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $13,970. Horticulture graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $36,258 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,970 median debt.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $16,374. Horticulture graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,374 median debt.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City came in at #21 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,779 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,726 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earn a median of $45,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clackamas Community College earned the #22 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,345, with out-of-state students paying around $14,265. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,915 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Clackamas Community College earn a median of $31,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American River College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College earned the #24 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $38,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Western Idaho ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s horticulture value ranking:
Explore the best-value horticulture schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 53 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.