Cheapest Botany/Plant Biology Colleges in California

California State University-Fullerton offers the state's most affordable botany program at just $5,646 net cost, while UC Berkeley charges $14,979 for similar training. This $9,333 gap reflects different institutional models serving California's agricultural sector, which employs over 400,000 workers across Central Valley farms and biotech companies. All nine programs maintain public status, keeping costs manageable for students entering a field where starting salaries average $23,761.

Programs

$5,646 – $15,288

Net Price Range

$23,761

Avg. Program Earnings

70.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

9 Botany/Plant Biology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
2	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
3	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
4	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
5	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
6	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
7	California State University-Chico Chico, California	$14,838	$8,064	63.6%	95.0%
8	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
9	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the wide cost difference between CSU Fullerton and UC Berkeley for botany programs?

CSU Fullerton's $5,646 net cost reflects its teaching-focused mission, while UC Berkeley's $14,979 price includes research opportunities and higher overhead costs. Both schools offer quality botany education, but Berkeley's 92.90% graduation rate versus Fullerton's 69.20% suggests different student support levels.

How selective are California's most affordable botany programs?

The cheapest options show high acceptance rates, with Cal Poly Humboldt accepting 98.18% of applicants and San Francisco State at 94.20%. In contrast, UC Berkeley accepts only 11.33% of students despite offering the same major, creating vastly different admission experiences.

Does choosing a less expensive program affect graduation success in botany?

Graduation rates vary significantly across price points, from Cal Poly Humboldt's 46.60% rate at $13,167 net cost to UC Irvine's 86% success rate at $12,840. The data shows no clear correlation between program cost and completion rates in California botany programs.

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