2026 Best Value Forestry, General Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Forestry, General](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/general-forestry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong forestry, general education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value forestry, general schools.
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2026 Best Value Forestry, General Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forestry, general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Forestry, General Schools
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #1 spot for value among forestry, general schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Students borrow a median of $24,893 to complete the forestry, general program here. Soon after graduation, forestry, general 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. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry, general schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry, general graduates is $19,844. Early-career forestry, general graduates make about $45,022. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for forestry, general. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Forestry, General graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry, general degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $45,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #4 place for forestry, general. 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 forestry, general graduates is $21,512. Early-career forestry, general graduates make about $35,398. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry, general schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Forestry, General graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Forestry, General graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $39,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.