2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Southeast Region

[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for forest sciences & biology students.
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2027 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forest sciences & biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools
University Of Georgia tops our 2027 list of the best value forest sciences & biology schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $22,607. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $46,687. That is a strong return on a $22,607 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #2 place for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $23,371 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $43,228. Set against $23,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Mississippi State University one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $40,219. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Kentucky one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. 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%.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at Clemson University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $24,700. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $53,850. That is a strong return on a $24,700 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Auburn University placed #6 among the best values for forest sciences & biology. 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. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $51,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.