2026 Best Value Horticulture Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Horticulture associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 284 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Horticulture Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is Southeast Community College Area, our #1 best-value Horticulture school in the United States. Based in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Southeast Community College Area Horticulture students take on a median of $14,935 in debt. Median earnings reach $43,405 ten years out. Set against $14,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Southeast Community College Area
Out of the 284 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Northeast Community College landed the #2 spot. Northeast Community College is a public school based in Norfolk, NE. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Typical Horticulture student debt is $11,937. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,634 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt. Get the full Northeast Community College report
You'll get strong value at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Kirkwood Community College is a public school based in Cedar Rapids, IA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $41,016 ten years out. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Kirkwood Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chippewa Valley Technical College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Based in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Median earnings reach $46,297 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt. More on Chippewa Valley Technical College
A rank of #5 makes North Shore Community College one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Danvers, MA. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,145 in student loans. North Shore Community College alumni report median earnings of $45,391 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,145 median debt. See the full North Shore Community College profile
Southeast Technical Institute ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Southeast Technical Institute is a public school based in Sioux Falls, SD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,650. Southeast Technical Institute Horticulture students take on a median of $18,442 in debt. Southeast Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $46,709 a decade after entry. Set against $18,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Southeast Technical Institute profile
Brigham Young University Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Rexburg, ID, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Graduates carry a median of $12,749 in student loans. Median earnings reach $53,406 ten years out. Set against $12,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Idaho has an acceptance rate of 96%. See the full Brigham Young University Idaho profile
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Set in Cincinnati, OH, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical Horticulture student debt is $17,730. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,137. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt. Read more about Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #9 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. Set in Conway, SC, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. The median Horticulture program debt is $19,172. Horry Georgetown Technical College alumni report median earnings of $35,507 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,172 median debt. Read more about Horry Georgetown Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Ankeny, IA, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete their Horticulture program here. Median earnings reach $41,018 ten years out. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Des Moines Area Community College profile
Owens Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Set in Perrysburg, OH, Owens Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Owens Community College Horticulture students take on a median of $19,383 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $37,275. Set against $19,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Owens Community College
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill placed #12 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. Based in Cobleskill, NY, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. The median Horticulture program debt is $23,490. Median earnings reach $45,030 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,490 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill report
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Wooster, OH, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Typical Horticulture student debt is $12,000. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $60,409 a decade after entry. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Lake Land College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Mattoon, IL, Lake Land College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical Horticulture student debt is $8,142. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Lake Land College
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,375 to complete their Horticulture program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,758 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,375 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Spartanburg Community College landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Spartanburg, SC, Spartanburg Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,097 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Spartanburg Community College profile
Pennsylvania College Of Technology landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Williamsport, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Horticulture program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,567. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Utah State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Set in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Typical Horticulture student debt is $16,191. Median earnings reach $54,022 ten years out. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University has an acceptance rate of 92%. Read more about Utah State University
Niagara County Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Based in Sanborn, NY, Niagara County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Students borrow a median of $13,970 to complete their Horticulture program here. Median earnings reach $42,285 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Niagara County Community College profile
Front Range Community College placed #20 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. Based in Westminster, CO, Front Range Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical Horticulture student debt is $14,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,910 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Front Range Community College report
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. The median Horticulture program debt is $11,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,631. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. About 60% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
Academia Serrant Inc offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Academia Serrant Inc report
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #23 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. See the full Santa Rosa Junior College profile
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College placed #24 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. Read more about Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Andrews University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Read more about Andrews University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Horticulture Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Carteret Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carteret Community College
Minneapolis Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Minneapolis Community And Technical College report
Washington State University placed #28 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. More on Washington State University
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College placed #29 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. See the full City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College profile
Oklahoma State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Mount Marty College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Mount Marty College
College Of Dupage landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full College Of Dupage profile
Long Beach City College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Long Beach City College report
Spokane Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. See the full Spokane Community College profile
Western Technical College La Cross ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. More on Western Technical College La Cross
Amarillo College
Amarillo College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Amarillo College
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lincoln Land Community College
University Of Georgia ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Read more about University Of Georgia
Hawaii Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Hawaii Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. See the full Southwest Virginia Community College profile
Arizona State University placed #41 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. More on Arizona State University
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. Read the full report on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Temple University landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Temple University
Butte College
Butte College placed #44 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. Get the full Butte College report
Clark State Community College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. More on Clark State Community College
Johnson County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Johnson County Community College profile
Las Positas College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Horticulture schools. See the full Las Positas College profile
Mchenry County College placed #48 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. More on Mchenry County College
Atlanta Technical College placed #49 among the best-value Horticulture schools in the United States. See the full Atlanta Technical College profile
College Of Central Florida landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full College Of Central Florida report
Related Horticulture Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Horticulture Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Horticulture Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Horticulture Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Horticulture Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Horticulture Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Horticulture Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Horticulture Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 284 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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