2027 Best Value Horticultural Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Horticultural Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/horticultural-science/) 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 17 schools to find the best return on investment for horticultural science students.
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2027 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the horticultural science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Horticultural Science Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value horticultural science schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $67,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value horticultural science schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place for horticultural science. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $54,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Dakota State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for horticultural science. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $25,153. Horticultural Science graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,048 early in their careers. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #5 place for horticultural science. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $22,156 to complete the horticultural science program here. Horticultural Science graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $42,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for horticultural science. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $13,911. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $42,712. Set against $13,911 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #7 spot for horticultural science value this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the horticultural science program here. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $47,716. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Arkansas ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value horticultural science schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $24,019. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $52,555. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Iowa State University placed #9 among the best values for horticultural science. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $20,500. Horticultural Science graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $54,204 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot for horticultural science value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value horticultural science schools. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a large public school located in the city of Mayaguez. In-state tuition and fees average $5,274. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $9,200. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez generally make around $30,053. Set against $9,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez admits about 56% of applicants.
Kansas State University landed the #12 spot for horticultural science value this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $21,905 in student loans. Horticultural Science graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $50,115 early in their careers. Set against $21,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Oregon State University earned the #13 position for value in horticultural science this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $25,096. Horticultural Science graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $38,397 early in their careers. Set against $25,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #14 spot for horticultural science value this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $20,750. Horticultural Science graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $36,980 early in their careers. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University landed the #15 spot for horticultural science value this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $21,724 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $46,395. That is a strong return on a $21,724 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University landed the #16 spot for horticultural science value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the horticultural science program here. Horticultural Science graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $50,611 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Cornell University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value horticultural science schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,990 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $32,236. That is a strong return on a $15,990 median debt. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Other Horticultural Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Horticultural Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Horticultural Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
