2027 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plant sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in plant sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Plant Sciences Schools
Fox Valley Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value plant sciences schools in the Great Lakes Region. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chippewa Valley Technical College earned it the #2 place for plant sciences. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the plant sciences program here. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $45,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin River Falls one of the best values for plant sciences. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $22,251. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $48,791 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,251 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plant sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for plant sciences value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $13,911 to complete the plant sciences program here. Plant Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $42,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,911 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best values for plant sciences. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the plant sciences program here. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Michigan State University came in at #8 for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $35,701. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #9 for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
