2027 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Plant Sciences](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/plant-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value plant sciences schools.
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2027 Best Value Plant Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the plant sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Plant Sciences Schools
Northeast Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value plant sciences schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,937 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $49,481. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State College Of Science came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value plant sciences schools. Set in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,974, while out-of-state students pay about $6,973. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $15,706. Plant Sciences graduates of North Dakota State College Of Science earn a median of $48,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mitchell Technical Institute earned it the #3 place for plant sciences. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Mitchell Technical Institute generally make around $47,686. That is a strong return on a $12,730 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Crookston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plant sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,288 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $23,793. Plant Sciences 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. University Of Minnesota Crookston admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Chadron State College one of the best values for plant sciences. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,294. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $15,989. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Chadron State College generally make around $36,558. That is a strong return on a $15,989 median debt.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for plant sciences value this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $25,153. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $49,048. That is a strong return on a $25,153 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #7 position for value in plant sciences this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,818 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of $47,170 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #8 for value in plant sciences this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,391 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $35,216. That is a strong return on a $15,391 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #9 position for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,487 to complete the plant sciences program here. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $36,173. Set against $18,487 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #10 among the best values for plant sciences. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Early-career plant sciences graduates make about $47,716. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Iowa State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value plant sciences schools. 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. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Plant Sciences 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. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University earned the #12 position for value in plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $21,905. Plant Sciences graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $50,115 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,905 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
South Dakota State University earned the #13 position for value in plant sciences this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Plant Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Plant Sciences graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $58,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #14 position for value in plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for plant sciences graduates is $17,983. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $46,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
