2026 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Southeast Region

[Forest Sciences & Biology](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/forest-sciences-and-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 Southeast 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
For return on investment in forest sciences & biology, no school beat West Virginia University this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,371 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. 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.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $22,607. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $46,687 early in their careers. Set against $22,607 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at Mississippi State University, which ranked #3. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $40,219 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #4 place for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, 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. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #5 makes Clemson University one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $24,700. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #6 for value in forest sciences & biology this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, 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. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 7 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.