2026 Best Value Forestry Schools in California
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
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2026 Best Value Forestry Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forestry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Reedley College tops our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools in California. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Bakersfield College one of the best values for forestry. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,430 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $9,419. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Tahoe Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,131 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,103. Median earnings reach $36,657 ten years out.
Humboldt State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete the forestry program here. Forestry graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $52,810 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #6 position for value in forestry this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $14,404. Early-career forestry graduates make about $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Sonora landed the #7 spot for forestry value this year. Located in the rural area of Sonora, Columbia College Sonora is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Students borrow a median of $13,293 to complete the forestry program here. Forestry graduates of Columbia College Sonora earn a median of $103,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #8 position for value in forestry this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $17,000. Early-career forestry graduates make about $55,092. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
