by our College Data Analytics Team
[Botany](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/botany/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong botany education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for botany students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the botany degrees they offer, see the list below.
Humboldt State University earned the #1 spot for value among botany schools in California. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $19,129. Early-career botany graduates make about $30,713. That is a strong return on a $19,129 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of California Riverside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $19,187. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for botany. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the botany program here. Botany graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #4 place for botany. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $14,404. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.