2026 Best Value Botany Schools in the Far Western Region
[Botany](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/botany/) 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for botany students.
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2026 Best Value Botany Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in botany, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Botany Schools
Leading the list is Humboldt State University, our #1 best value for botany in the Far Western Region. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $19,129. Botany graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $30,713 early in their careers. Set against $19,129 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for botany. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Botany graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Botany graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $48,181 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of California Riverside came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value botany schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Botany graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $14,238. Early-career botany graduates make about $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of California Davis came in at #6 for value in botany this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Botany graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $53,749. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
Oregon State University placed #7 among the best values for botany. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Botany graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans. Early-career botany graduates make about $51,000. That is a strong return on a $24,043 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
