2026 Best Value Soil Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Soil Sciences master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 42 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Soil Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
North Dakota State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Soil Sciences master's degree schools in the United States. Located in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. The median Soil Sciences program debt is $25,153. North Dakota State University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $62,203 a decade after entry. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 95%. Read the full report on North Dakota State University Main Campus
You'll get strong value at University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Mayaguez, PR, University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,274. The median Soil Sciences program debt is $8,630. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez alumni report median earnings of $48,992 a decade after entry. Set against $8,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez admits about 56% of applicants. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez profile
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values in the United States. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $73,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
A rank of #4 makes Iowa State University one of the best values in the United States. Iowa State University is a public school based in Ames, IA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete their Soil Sciences program here. Median earnings reach $63,386 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University has an acceptance rate of 89%. Read more about Iowa State University
University Of Wyoming came in at #5 on this year's best-value Soil Sciences ranking in the United States. University Of Wyoming is a public school based in Laramie, WY. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%. Read the full report on University Of Wyoming
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical Soil Sciences student debt is $19,844. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $72,424. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
Washington State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Soil Sciences schools. Washington State University is a public school based in Pullman, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $68,905. That is a strong return on a $21,903 median debt. Washington State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. Read the full report on Washington State University
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Set in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Typical Soil Sciences student debt is $22,337. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,413. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
The University Of Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. The University Of Tennessee Soil Sciences students take on a median of $23,149 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $60,249. That is a strong return on a $23,149 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%. See the full The University Of Tennessee profile
North Carolina State University At Raleigh offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical Soil Sciences student debt is $22,113. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,758 ten years after entry. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. University Of Florida Soil Sciences students take on a median of $17,669 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%. More on University Of Florida
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in College Station, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete their Soil Sciences program here. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station has an acceptance rate of 57%. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical Soil Sciences student debt is $21,577. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities alumni report median earnings of $69,020 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities has an acceptance rate of 80%. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of California Davis landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Davis, CA, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. The median Soil Sciences program debt is $14,404. University Of California Davis alumni report median earnings of $80,838 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants. More on University Of California Davis
Michigan State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $21,859 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $67,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University has an acceptance rate of 85%. Read more about Michigan State University
Utah State University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete their Soil Sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,022 ten years after entry. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 92% of those who apply are admitted. More on Utah State University
Oregon State University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. The median Soil Sciences program debt is $24,043. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $64,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 77% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Oregon State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school based in Honolulu, HI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. University Of Hawaii At Manoa Soil Sciences students take on a median of $20,577 in debt. Median earnings reach $57,624 ten years out. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Colorado State University Fort Collins Soil Sciences students take on a median of $21,750 in debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins alumni report median earnings of $60,543 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins has an acceptance rate of 88%. Read the full report on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Soil Sciences schools. Get the full University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville report
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Soil Sciences schools. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Texas Tech University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas Tech University
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Soil Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Idaho landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Idaho
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson profile
Northwest State Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Soil Sciences schools. See the full Northwest State Community College profile
Treasure Valley Community College placed #29 among the best-value Soil Sciences schools in the United States. More on Treasure Valley Community College
Clemson University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Clemson University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Brigham Young University Provo report
Brigham Young University Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on Brigham Young University Idaho
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point report
University Of Kentucky came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Kentucky
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Riverside offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full University Of California Riverside report
Buena Vista University placed #38 among the best-value Soil Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Buena Vista University report
University Of Maryland College Park offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln profile
University Of Georgia landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Georgia profile
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Related Soil Sciences Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Soil Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Soil Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Soil Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Soil Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Soil Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Soil Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Soil Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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 42 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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