Botany Degree in Mesa, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Botany degree analysis for Mesa, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Mesa
Cost of Living
110
index (100 = avg)
Botany in Mesa, AZ Overview
Mesa is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 36,638. Public tuition averages $12,467/year here — near the national average for public universities. Botany enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Plant Taxonomy and Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Mesa is approximately $57,200.
Category
Science
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$36,100/yr
Room & Board
$13,027/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,459/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
54%
Botany Salary in Mesa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesa's cost of living index of 110 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Botany salary: $52,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Mesa adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Botany ROI Calculator for Mesa
Estimate your return on investment for a Botany degree using local Mesa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $36,100
Mesa avg aid: $15,459/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,976
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,700
vs HS diploma in Mesa
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesa
$63,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($165,000) minus total education cost ($101,976)
Student Loan Payoff for Botany in Mesa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesa for Botany
Arizona State University Polytechnic
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
A.T. Still University
private
$42,500/yr
$170,000 total
Benedictine University Mesa
private
$29,700/yr
$118,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesa Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Botany in Mesa
Mesa offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Botany graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesa Hiring Sectors for Science
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Botany Job Titles
Botany in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$79K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$60K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$64K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$62K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$55K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$66K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$54K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$59K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Science Majors in Mesa
Botany Degree in Mesa — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Botany ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Mesa.