2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong forestry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
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2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forestry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Leading the list is Mid State Technical College, our #1 best value for forestry in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $41,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Forestry graduates carry a median of $21,512 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $35,398. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Hocking College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete the forestry program here. Forestry graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,713 early in their careers. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in forestry will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $45,771. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for forestry. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,893. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,177. That is a strong return on a $24,893 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Forestry graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $45,022. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #7 among the best values for forestry. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $39,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
