[Botany/Plant Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for botany/plant biology students.
Finding the Best Value Botany/Plant Biology School for You
Where you study botany/plant biology affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value botany/plant biology schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany/plant biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #3 place for botany/plant biology. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $21,792. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany/plant biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in botany/plant biology will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #5. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Set against $19,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Humboldt State University came in at #7 for value in botany/plant biology this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Students from in state pay about $8,397 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $19,129. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Humboldt State University generally make around $30,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #8 for value in botany/plant biology this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Botany/plant Biology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Washington State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value botany/plant biology schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Utah State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value botany/plant biology schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $54,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #12 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $25,000. Botany/plant Biology graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $33,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #13 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $48,181. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #14 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Mississippi State University landed the #15 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $23,969. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $47,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Vermont placed #16 among the best values for botany/plant biology. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $44,588. Set against $22,607 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #17 among the best values for botany/plant biology. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Oregon State University earned the #18 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $24,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $51,326. That is a strong return on a $24,041 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #19 among the best values for botany/plant biology. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #20 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $23,393. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $60,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #21 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. 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/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Cornell University earned the #22 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $15,005. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $75,976. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #23 for value in botany/plant biology this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $16,616. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $78,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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).
[Botany/Plant Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
