Skip to main content

Cheapest Botany/Plant Biology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Ohio regional campuses command the most affordable botany education nationwide, with Ohio University-Eastern delivering plant science training for just $4,503 annually. This creates a stark $9,204 cost gap between the cheapest and most expensive programs on our list, while most graduates across all schools earn identical $23,761 starting salaries. The Great Lakes region supports extensive agricultural research and conservation work, with Ohio alone employing over 2,800 plant scientists across state institutions and private agricultural firms. California State University-Fullerton breaks the affordability pattern among competitive programs, maintaining both reasonable $5,646 costs and strong 69.2% graduation rates. Meanwhile, University of Florida proves that low cost doesn't require compromising academic reputation, charging just $6,351 while achieving an outstanding 91.5% graduation rate that rivals elite private institutions.
50
Programs
$4,503 – $20,751
Net Price Range
$24,895
Avg. Program Earnings
62.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Botany/Plant Biology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
2 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
3 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
4 $5,971 $6,178 17.7%
5 $6,133 $6,178 13.7%
6 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
7 $6,483 $6,178 12.1%
8 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
9 $7,912 $7,868 34.9%
10 $8,463 $6,270 40.7%
11 $10,722 $6,391 43.0%
12 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
13 $11,779 $6,938 59.8% 96.0%
14 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
15 $12,869 $9,228 57.3% 93.7%
16 $12,882 $7,424 50.1% 94.2%
17 $13,167 $7,913 46.6% 98.2%
18 $13,181 $12,186 62.6% 72.8%
19 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
20 $13,707 $14,170 76.6% 68.7%
21 $13,816 $11,180 87.2% 42.6%
22 $13,945 $9,992 83.1% 52.7%
23 $14,401 $12,997 61.6% 83.1%
24 $14,832 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
25 $14,838 $8,064 63.6% 95.0%
26 $14,979 $14,850 92.9% 11.3%
27 $15,288 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
28 $15,323 $9,998 52.1% 87.9%
29 $15,501 $9,815 62.9% 75.2%
30 $15,590 $11,505 88.6% 44.6%
31 $16,177 $13,244 56.3% 91.5%
32 $16,334 $10,857 63.7% 95.7%
33 $16,378 $10,234 65.9% 70.6%
34 $16,928 $11,205 89.3% 49.1%
35 $16,931 $8,895 84.6% 47.2%
36 $17,118 $8,152 45.4% 95.4%
37 $17,139 $16,488 84.8% 74.9%
38 $17,218 $13,212 69.9% 94.9%
39 $17,324 $8,356 38.3%
40 $17,413 $9,595 75.3% 72.9%
41 $17,424 $10,108 65.8% 78.6%
42 $17,722 $12,594 51.2% 79.0%
43 $18,045 $12,606 56.4% 94.0%
44 $18,165 $10,497 75.5% 90.2%
45 $18,292 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
46 $19,568 $13,494 70.6% 82.5%
47 $19,614 $12,846 65.5% 88.0%
48 $20,332 $12,896 66.9% 90.8%
49 $20,413 $13,746 66.4% 86.5%
50 $20,751 $15,988 82.2% 88.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost differences between these botany programs?

Ohio regional campuses offer the lowest costs, with five programs under $6,500, primarily serving local students with reduced overhead expenses. In contrast, major research universities like UC-Irvine charge $12,840 despite their public status, reflecting higher research infrastructure costs. Geography plays a major role, as western schools typically cost $3,000-$8,000 more than comparable midwestern programs. The $9,204 spread between cheapest and most expensive programs represents vastly different educational models within the same degree field.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in botany?

University of Florida achieves the highest 91.5% graduation rate while charging just $6,351, proving cost doesn't determine completion success. Conversely, Ohio regional campuses show concerning patterns, with graduation rates ranging from 12.1% to 20% despite their ultra-low costs. California State University-Fullerton maintains solid 69.2% graduation rates at moderate $5,646 costs, suggesting a sweet spot between affordability and student support. The data reveals that institutional resources and student services matter more than raw tuition prices for degree completion.

Is the $23,761 starting salary realistic across all these programs?

Entry-level botanists typically earn $23,000-$26,000 regardless of their alma mater, reflecting standardized government and research institution pay scales. State agricultural departments, national parks, and environmental consulting firms largely determine these wages rather than individual school prestige. However, graduates from research-intensive universities like UC-Irvine often access higher-paying private sector roles within 2-3 years. The uniform starting salary actually makes choosing affordable programs like Ohio University campuses more financially logical for most students.

Does geographic location affect job placement for botany graduates?

Western states offer more varied botanical career paths, with California, Utah, and New Mexico supporting significant agricultural research, conservation work, and environmental consulting industries. Ohio graduates often relocate for better opportunities, as the state's agricultural focus limits specialized botanical roles compared to western regions. University of Florida provides excellent regional placement due to the state's year-round growing seasons and extensive citrus industry research needs. Students should consider regional job markets alongside program costs, as relocation expenses can quickly offset initial tuition savings.

Where do the most selective botany programs offer the best value?

University of Florida delivers strong value with 23.35% acceptance rates and $6,351 costs, combining selectivity with affordability that's rare among competitive programs. UC-Irvine accepts just 21.15% of applicants but charges $12,840, making it less accessible for budget-conscious students despite its research reputation. California State University-Fullerton balances moderate selectivity at 66.72% acceptance with reasonable $5,646 costs and strong 69.2% graduation rates. Students seeking competitive programs without premium prices should prioritize University of Florida and Cal State Fullerton over more expensive alternatives.

More Botany/Plant Biology Rankings

Best Value Botany/Plant Biology Botany/Plant Biology Under $20,000

Related

All Botany/Plant Biology 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.