2027 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Horticultural Science](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/horticultural-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value horticultural science schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Horticultural Science Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Crookston, our #1 best value for horticultural science in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,288. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $23,793. Horticultural Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $57,915 early in their careers. Set against $23,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in horticultural science will find it at North Dakota State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $49,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in horticultural science will find it at Northwest Missouri State University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Horticultural Science graduates carry a median of $23,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Set against $23,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for horticultural science. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $15,391. Soon after graduation, horticultural science degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $35,216. Set against $15,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #5 place for horticultural science. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $18,487. Horticultural Science graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $36,173 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,487 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #6 spot for horticultural science value this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the horticultural science program here. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $47,716. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Iowa State University earned the #7 position for value in horticultural science this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. 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 $61,550 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kansas State University placed #8 among the best values for horticultural science. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for horticultural science graduates is $21,905. Early-career horticultural science graduates make about $50,115. Set against $21,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.