2026 Best Value Plant Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Plant Sciences graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 164 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 analyzed schools to compile 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
South Dakota State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Plant Sciences graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete their Plant Sciences program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants. More on South Dakota State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #2 on this year's best-value Plant Sciences ranking in the United States. Set in Lincoln, NE, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. University Of Nebraska Lincoln Plant Sciences students take on a median of $21,875 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,887. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants. Read more about University Of Nebraska Lincoln
A rank of #3 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $21,654 to complete their Plant Sciences program here. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Out of the 164 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Kansas State University landed the #4 spot. Based in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $21,905 to complete their Plant Sciences program here. Kansas State University alumni report median earnings of $57,262 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 82% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Kansas State University profile
You'll get strong value at Iowa State University, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Ames, IA. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. The median Plant Sciences program debt is $20,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 89% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Iowa State University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Plant Sciences students take on a median of $22,156 in debt. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh has an acceptance rate of 42%. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. The median Plant Sciences program debt is $12,281. University Of Florida alumni report median earnings of $71,588 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. Get the full University Of Florida report
Oregon State University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $25,096 to complete their Plant Sciences program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $64,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%. Get the full Oregon State University report
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. More on Arkansas State University Main Campus
Butte College
Butte College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Butte College
Dordt College
Dordt College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Dordt College profile
University Of Wyoming landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Wyoming profile
Lorain County Community College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Lorain County Community College profile
Cochise College
Cochise College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cochise College report
Langston University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Langston University report
Clemson University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Clemson University
Fort Valley State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. See the full Fort Valley State University profile
Heartland Community College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Heartland Community College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Minnesota West Community And Technical College report
Texas Tech University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Texas Tech University
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full New Mexico State University Main Campus report
Arizona Western College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Arizona Western College
Saint Josephs University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Saint Josephs University report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Barton County Community College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Barton County Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Plant Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Indian Hills Community College placed #27 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Indian Hills Community College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
Utah State University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Utah State University
Washington State University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Washington State University report
Huntington University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Huntington University
California State University Fresno offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on California State University Fresno
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #34 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Central Wyoming College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. More on Central Wyoming College
Middle Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Middle Tennessee State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Purdue University Main Campus
Sam Houston State University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Sam Houston State University profile
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on North Iowa Area Community College
Ozarka College
Ozarka College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. See the full Ozarka College profile
Montana State University came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Montana State University
Brigham Young University Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Brigham Young University Idaho profile
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #44 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. More on Central Lakes College Brainerd
Vincennes University placed #45 among the best-value Plant Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Vincennes University report
Northland Community And Technical College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Northland Community And Technical College profile
Oklahoma Panhandle State University came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Oklahoma Panhandle State University
University Of Idaho landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Idaho
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Plant Sciences schools. More on Fox Valley Technical College
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 Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Plant Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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