2026 Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Botany/Plant Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/botany-plant-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for botany/plant biology students.
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2026 Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in botany/plant biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for botany/plant biology in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, botany/plant biology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for botany/plant biology. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in botany/plant biology will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the botany/plant biology program here. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Humboldt State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in botany/plant biology, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $19,129 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $30,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,129 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in botany/plant biology will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $14,238. Botany/plant Biology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #6 spot for botany/plant biology value this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $20,577 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology 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. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Davis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value botany/plant biology schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, 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. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #8 spot for botany/plant biology value 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. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Botany/plant Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #9 position for value in botany/plant biology this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $21,577. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $56,395. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #10 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. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $33,009. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Oregon State University placed #11 among the best values for botany/plant biology. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Typical student debt for botany/plant biology graduates is $24,043. Botany/plant Biology graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $51,000 early in their careers. Set against $24,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value botany/plant biology schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Vermont placed #13 among the best values for botany/plant biology. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Miami University Oxford placed #14 among the best values for botany/plant biology. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Botany/plant Biology graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans. Early-career botany/plant biology graduates make about $49,700. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Other Botany/Plant Biology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value botany/plant biology schools at other degree levels:
View All Botany/Plant Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.