2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in Illinois
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong horticulture education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value horticulture schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Horticulture Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in horticulture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #1 spot for value among horticulture schools in Illinois. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $8,142. Horticulture graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $7,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #3 spot this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. That is a strong return on a $13,289 median debt.
Joliet Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #5 spot this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earned the #6 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,478 to complete the horticulture program here. Horticulture graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #7 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #8 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College landed the #9 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the horticulture program here. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value horticulture schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,566. That is a strong return on a $23,730 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
More Horticulture Rankings
View All Horticulture Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 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.
