Plant Sciences Colleges Under $20,000

California State University-Fresno graduates earn $50,606 annually, making it the highest-paying affordable plant sciences program in the nation despite charging just $6,480 per year. This earnings premium reflects California's massive agricultural economy, where plant scientists work for companies like Driscoll's, Wonderful Company, and Taylor Farms across the Central Valley. The gap between top and bottom earners spans nearly $28,000, with University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez graduates starting at $22,892. Public universities dominate this field, offering in-state tuition as low as $5,274 at UPR-Mayaguez and $5,392 at Fort Valley State University. College of the Ozarks stands out as the only private institution making the cut at $7,669 net cost. Acceptance rates vary wildly from University of Florida's competitive 23.35% to nearly open admission at several state schools. The agricultural sector employs over 2.6 million Americans, creating steady demand for plant scientists who develop crop varieties, manage soil health, and optimize growing systems.

Programs

$6,351 – $17,139

Net Price Range

$37,849

Avg. Program Earnings

62.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Plant Sciences Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
2	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
3	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
4	Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, Oklahoma	$7,557	$7,922	26.1%
5	College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, Missouri	$7,669	$21,290	61.3%	21.1%
6	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$8,896	$17,462	59.5%	97.9%
7	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
8	University of Minnesota-Crookston Crookston, Minnesota	$10,874	$13,120	49.7%	57.2%
9	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, Connecticut	$11,504	$17,462	56.7%	97.4%
10	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
11	Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, Georgia	$11,609	$5,392	45.2%	43.1%
12	University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming	$11,779	$6,938	59.8%	96.0%
13	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$12,599	$9,506	54.0%	72.5%
14	University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez, Puerto Rico	$12,684	$5,274	47.0%	54.4%
15	Utah State University Logan, Utah	$12,869	$9,228	57.3%	93.7%
16	West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia	$12,997	$9,648	61.2%	88.4%
17	Arkansas State University Jonesboro, Arkansas	$13,085	$7,754	55.1%	69.5%
18	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
19	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
20	Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska	$13,308	$8,078	38.1%
21	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, Connecticut	$13,339	$17,452	65.4%	97.3%
22	University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho	$13,782	$8,816	60.9%	73.9%
23	University of Georgia Athens, Georgia	$13,816	$11,180	87.2%	42.6%
24	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945	$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
25	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, Connecticut	$14,059	$17,472	56.9%	92.2%
26	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
27	Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri	$14,532	$9,496	55.7%	86.3%
28	Alabama A & M University Normal, Alabama	$14,559	$10,024	28.7%	68.4%
29	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	$14,714	$8,606	60.9%	84.5%
30	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	$14,754	$8,315	61.5%	85.4%
31	Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, Minnesota	$14,760	$10,304	44.1%	91.6%
32	Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, Missouri	$14,824	$10,181	57.5%	85.6%
33	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$14,838	$8,064	63.6%	95.0%
34	Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, Texas	$15,152	$10,600	51.7%	89.5%
35	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$15,201	$16,004	84.9%	44.8%
36	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
37	University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada	$15,402	$8,994	62.4%	85.6%
38	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, Mississippi	$15,501	$9,815	62.9%	75.2%
39	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$15,590	$11,505	88.6%	44.6%
40	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$15,624	$11,075	85.2%	30.4%
41	University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona	$15,960	$13,626	65.9%	86.8%
42	Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas	$16,025	$9,228	55.1%	84.6%
43	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois	$16,177	$13,244	56.3%	91.5%
44	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
45	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, Oklahoma	$16,378	$10,234	65.9%	70.6%
46	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
47	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$16,928	$11,205	89.3%	49.1%
48	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
49	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$16,931	$16,080	78.8%	73.8%
50	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $28,000 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paying programs?

Regional job markets drive this disparity significantly. California State University-Fresno graduates earn $50,606 working in California's $50 billion agricultural industry, while University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez graduates start at $22,892 in a smaller regional economy. Cost of living differences also factor in, as California plant scientists need higher salaries to maintain comparable living standards. Agricultural diversity matters too, with California's specialty crops requiring more specialized expertise than traditional commodity farming.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in plant sciences?

University of Florida combines the lowest net cost at $6,351 with the highest graduation rate at 91.50%, proving affordability doesn't sacrifice quality. However, Oklahoma Panhandle State University shows just 26.10% of students graduating despite reasonable $7,557 costs. Cal Poly Pomona achieves a solid 66.70% graduation rate at $11,580, while several sub-$10,000 programs struggle with completion rates below 50%. Financial stress clearly impacts some students, but institutional support varies widely.

Where do plant sciences graduates find the best job prospects relative to education costs?

California leads with Fresno State delivering $50,606 earnings for just $6,480 in costs, a 7.8-to-1 return ratio. Connecticut campuses at Waterbury and Avery Point both produce $45,696 earners, though at higher net costs around $9,000-$11,500. Texas A&M-Kingsville offers strong prospects at $40,048 earnings for $10,204 in costs. The agriculture-heavy Midwest and Southwest provide steady employment, while coastal states typically offer premium salaries.

Does admission selectivity affect program quality in affordable plant sciences degrees?

University of Florida proves high selectivity can coexist with affordability, accepting just 23.35% of applicants while maintaining the lowest costs. College of the Ozarks also stays selective at 21.13% acceptance despite charging only $7,669. However, many excellent programs maintain near-open admission, with University of Wyoming accepting 95.98% of students yet producing graduates earning $38,289. Cal State Fresno balances moderate selectivity at 95.43% acceptance with the field's highest graduate earnings.

What makes College of the Ozarks unique among affordable plant sciences programs?

College of the Ozarks stands as the only private institution under $10,000, charging $7,669 net cost compared to a $21,290 sticker price. Students work on campus to reduce costs, making it accessible despite private school pricing. The school accepts just 21.13% of applicants while achieving a 61.30% graduation rate, outperforming many public alternatives. This work-study model creates graduates with both academic knowledge and practical agricultural experience valued by employers.

More Plant Sciences Rankings

Cheapest Plant Sciences Best Value Plant Sciences

All Plant Sciences Programs All College Rankings Highest-Paying Majors 2026

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.