2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Forest Sciences & Biology](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/forest-sciences-and-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for forest sciences & biology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forest sciences & biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Georgia the best value for a degree in forest sciences & biology in the United States. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $47,214. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #2 place for forest sciences & biology. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $21,512. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $35,398. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $22,698 in student loans. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $40,435. That is a strong return on a $22,698 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forest sciences & biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $43,029. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Michigan Technological University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $45,571 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #6 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $24,893. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,177. Set against $24,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University placed #7 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $23,371. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $43,228. That is a strong return on a $23,371 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Maine landed the #8 spot for forest sciences & biology value this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $23,618. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $43,901. Set against $23,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Mississippi State University landed the #9 spot for forest sciences & biology value this year. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $40,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #10 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $19,437 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $39,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,437 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry placed #11 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,303 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,763. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky came in at #12 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $32,573. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #13 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $24,200 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University landed the #14 spot for forest sciences & biology value this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $24,700. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #15 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $20,500. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $51,421 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science earned the #16 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Located in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,009. Students borrow a median of $25,443 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $34,923. Set against $25,443 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science admits about 76% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #17 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $21,429 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,189 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,429 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Other Forest Sciences & Biology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Forest Sciences & Biology rankings across degree levels:
View All Forest Sciences & Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
