2026 Best Value Plant Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Plant Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 164 colleges 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 reviewed schools to build 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 Plant Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Northeast Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Plant Sciences associate's degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Norfolk, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Northeast Community College Plant Sciences students take on a median of $11,937 in debt. Northeast Community College alumni report median earnings of $42,634 a decade after entry. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Northeast Community College
A rank of #2 makes Ridgewater College one of the best values in the United States. Ridgewater College is a public school based in Willmar, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Typical Plant Sciences student debt is $15,556. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,827 ten years after entry. Set against $15,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Ridgewater College profile
You'll get strong value at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Fennimore, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. The median Plant Sciences program debt is $12,112. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College alumni report median earnings of $43,470 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,112 median debt. Read more about Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Out of the 164 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #4 spot. Located in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Mitchell Technical Institute Plant Sciences students take on a median of $12,730 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
Out of the 164 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #5 spot. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical Plant Sciences student debt is $14,234. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Chippewa Valley Technical College profile
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Appleton, WI. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Fox Valley Technical College Plant Sciences students take on a median of $13,319 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,684. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Fox Valley Technical College
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. This public school is set in Wooster, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Plant Sciences students take on a median of $11,717 in debt. Median earnings reach $60,409 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill placed #8 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public school based in Cobleskill, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill Plant Sciences students take on a median of $23,490 in debt. Median earnings reach $45,030 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill admits about 84% of applicants. Get the full Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill report
Temple University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical Plant Sciences student debt is $26,259. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,727. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted. See the full Temple University profile
University Of Connecticut came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Located in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical Plant Sciences student debt is $23,637. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,997 ten years after entry. Set against $23,637 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 52% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
Morrisville State College placed #11 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Morrisville, NY, Morrisville State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,245. Students borrow a median of $20,290 to complete their Plant Sciences program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,295. Set against $20,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%. More on Morrisville State College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Sheridan College
Athens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Athens Technical College report
Holyoke Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read more about Holyoke Community College
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Minnesota State University Mankato
Auburn University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Auburn University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Kishwaukee College placed #19 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kishwaukee College
Fullerton College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read more about Fullerton College
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
Huntington University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Huntington University
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Brigham Young University Provo
Northwest Missouri State University placed #24 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. More on Northwest Missouri State University
South Florida State College placed #25 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about South Florida State College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Plant Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Michigan State University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Michigan State University report
College Of The Ozarks landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on College Of The Ozarks
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Texas A And M University College Station
Little Big Horn College offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Little Big Horn College
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full Stephen F Austin State University profile
University Of Florida placed #31 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Florida profile
California State University Chico offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full California State University Chico profile
Eastern Wyoming College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on Eastern Wyoming College
Oregon State University placed #34 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Oregon State University report
Heartland Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Heartland Community College
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on New Mexico State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Washington State University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Washington State University
University Of Georgia landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Georgia
Madera Community College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on Madera Community College
Kankakee Community College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Kankakee Community College report
Mount Olive College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read more about Mount Olive College
Butte College
Butte College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read the full report on Butte College
Andrews University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read the full report on Andrews University
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Nevada Reno
North Iowa Area Community College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read more about North Iowa Area Community College
University Of Minnesota Crookston offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about University Of Minnesota Crookston
Sam Houston State University placed #48 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sam Houston State University
Southwest Minnesota State University offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Southwest Minnesota State University
University Of Arkansas landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Arkansas report
Related Plant Sciences Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Plant Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Plant Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 164 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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