2027 Best Value Botany Schools in the Great Lakes 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for botany students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Botany Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the botany degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Botany Schools
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 best value for botany in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Botany graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Botany graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for botany graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan State University one of the best values for botany. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the botany program here. Early-career botany graduates make about $54,166. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for botany. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Botany graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miami University Oxford earned it the #5 place for botany. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Botany graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.