2026 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Forest Sciences & Biology](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/forest-sciences-and-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for forest sciences & biology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 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 West Virginia University the best value for a degree in forest sciences & biology in the United States. 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. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $19,844. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $43,029 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $47,214. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned it the #4 place for forest sciences & biology. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $24,893 in student loans. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $41,177. That is a strong return on a $24,893 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #5. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $22,698. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $40,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Mississippi State University landed the #6 spot for forest sciences & biology value this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $40,219 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Michigan Technological University came in at #7 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $45,571. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $21,512 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $35,398 early in their careers. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Kentucky placed #9 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $32,573 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Maine came in at #10 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $23,618. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $43,901. Set against $23,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Iowa State University earned the #11 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $19,437 in student loans. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $39,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry earned the #12 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,303, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,763 ten years out. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry admits about 63% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #13 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $24,200. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $51,693. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University placed #14 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. 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. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Other Forest Sciences & Biology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value forest sciences & biology schools at other degree levels:
View All Forest Sciences & Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.