Plant Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools to find the best for plant sciences students.
The plant sciences program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Plant Sciences Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Plant Sciences Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, our #1 school for plant sciences. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 plant sciences degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $63,129 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,666 to complete this degree.
See the full plant sciences program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Students looking for a strong plant sciences program will find one at University Of California Davis, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 59 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $43,873. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for University Of California Davis
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 64 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Purdue University Main Campus
California State University Fresno is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in plant sciences, ranking #4. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 72 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
Get the full plant sciences details for California State University Fresno
University Of California Santa Cruz is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in plant sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. About 12 plant sciences degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $40,920 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,559 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
Texas Tech University landed the #6 spot for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 92 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
See the full plant sciences program report for Texas Tech University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for plant sciences this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $45,411 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
Get the full plant sciences details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Iowa State University earned the #8 position for plant sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Iowa State University awarded about 134 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $61,550. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Iowa State University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #9 for plant sciences this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. About 52 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. Plant Sciences graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $61,674 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,062 to complete this degree.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
University Of Florida ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 124 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $51,815. Typical student debt for the program is $12,281.
Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Florida
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #11 position for plant sciences this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. About 40 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $44,020 in their early career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $32,236. Typical student debt for the program is $15,990.
See the full plant sciences program report for Cornell University
California State University Chico earned the #14 position for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 plant sciences degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from California State University Chico earn around $43,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from California State University Chico
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #15 for plant sciences this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 54 plant sciences degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $45,163. Students borrow a median of $21,654 to complete this degree.
See the full plant sciences program report for Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Arkansas earned the #16 position for plant sciences this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $52,555 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,019.
Read more about the plant sciences program at University Of Arkansas
California State University Monterey Bay landed the #17 spot for plant sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 43 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $49,032 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,622.
Get the full plant sciences details for California State University Monterey Bay
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 14 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234.
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University Of Missouri Columbia placed #19 among the best plant sciences schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $46,627 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,983.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from University Of Missouri Columbia
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #20 for plant sciences this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 111 plant sciences degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $42,008 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,156 in student loans.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 62 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their plant sciences degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $42,861 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,687.
More information about a degree in plant sciences from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #22 position for plant sciences this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Plant Sciences graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $46,152 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
Get the full plant sciences details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Kansas State University placed #23 among the best plant sciences schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kansas State University awarded about 98 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, plant sciences degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $50,115. Students borrow a median of $21,905 to complete this degree.
Read more about the plant sciences program at Kansas State University
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best plant sciences schools. This large public university is located in the town of California. Pennsylvania Western University graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 plant sciences students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $45,448 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete this degree.
See the full plant sciences program report for Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Georgia came in at #25 for plant sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 61 plant sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the plant sciences program make about $47,698 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
Get the full plant sciences details for University Of Georgia
Rest of the Top 50 Plant Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s plant sciences ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 71 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).
