2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Forest Sciences & Biology](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/forest-sciences-and-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value forest sciences & biology schools.
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2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #1 spot for value among forest sciences & biology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. 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. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan Technological University earned it the #2 place for forest sciences & biology. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $27,000. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $45,771. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Students borrow a median of $24,893 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $41,177 early in their careers. Set against $24,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $45,022. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
