2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Far Western Region
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for horticulture students.
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2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
Saddleback College tops our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools in the Far Western Region. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $5,707. Horticulture graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Mt San Antonio College one of the best values for horticulture. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Rosa Junior College earned it the #3 place for horticulture. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,692. Horticulture graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology generally make around $60,000. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Diablo Valley College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. In-state tuition and fees average $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $9,205. Horticulture graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Community College landed the #6 spot for horticulture value this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $39,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyamaca College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Cuyamaca College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,346, while out-of-state students pay about $11,314. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,435.
Foothill College earned the #8 position for value in horticulture this year. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,565, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,595. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $94,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hawaii Community College earned the #9 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the town of Hilo, Hawaii Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,204, with out-of-state students paying around $8,340. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,170 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $37,760. Set against $13,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fullerton College came in at #10 for value in horticulture 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.
Clackamas Community College landed the #11 spot for horticulture value this year. Located in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. 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.
Walla Walla Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,279 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,700. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Walla Walla Community College generally make around $46,131. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Tacoma Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,507, while out-of-state students pay about $11,646. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,822. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $41,732. That is a strong return on a $14,822 median debt.
Portland Community College came in at #14 for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $20,648 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $49,580. That is a strong return on a $20,648 median debt.
College Of The Desert earned the #15 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,326, compared with $10,174 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Edmonds Community College came in at #16 for value in horticulture this year. Edmonds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lynnwood. Students from in state pay about $4,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,875. Students borrow a median of $16,025 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Edmonds Community College generally make around $35,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Merritt College came in at #17 for value in horticulture this year. Merritt College is a large public school located in the city of Oakland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,258, with out-of-state students paying around $9,898. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,500. Median earnings reach $44,392 ten years out. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 58 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.
