2026 Best Horticultural Science Schools in the Southwest Region

Horticultural Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for horticultural science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Horticultural Science Schools in the Southwest Region

Best Schools for Horticultural Science in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall horticultural science education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Horticultural Science

1

Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Stillwater, OK

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

24 Horticultural Science Degrees Awarded

$50,993 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Oklahoma State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in horticultural science. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. About 24 horticultural science degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their horticultural science degree from Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn around $50,993 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,337. More information about a degree in horticultural science from Oklahoma State University Main Campus

2

New Mexico State University Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

13 Horticultural Science Degrees Awarded

$41,860 Median Starting Salary

New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best horticultural science schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. About 13 horticultural science degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the horticultural science program make about $41,860 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete this degree. See the full horticultural science program report for New Mexico State University Main Campus

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 6 schools evaluated.

• 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.