2027 Best Value Horticulture Schools in North Carolina
[Horticulture](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/horticulture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for horticulture students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Horticulture Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticulture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Horticulture Schools
Wilkes Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value horticulture schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pamlico Community College earned it the #2 place for horticulture. Set in the rural area of Grantsboro, Pamlico Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,712 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,928. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,005 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in horticulture will find it at Wayne Community College, which ranked #3. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Horticulture graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in horticulture, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, horticulture degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sandhills Community College earned it the #5 place for horticulture. Located in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $9,238 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $46,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #6 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete the horticulture program here. 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.
Brunswick Community College earned the #7 position for value in horticulture this year. Set in the rural area of Bolivia, Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,553, compared with $8,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the horticulture program here. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $47,493. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carteret Community College came in at #8 for value in horticulture this year. Located in the town of Morehead City, Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, compared with $8,222 for out-of-state students. Horticulture graduates carry a median of $5,566 in student loans. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $48,953. That is a strong return on a $5,566 median debt.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #9 spot for horticulture value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for horticulture graduates is $14,375. Early-career horticulture graduates make about $38,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
More Horticulture Rankings
View All Horticulture Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
