2027 Best Value Forestry Master’s Degree Schools
[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
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2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forestry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in forestry in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,512 to complete the forestry program here. Forestry graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $60,468 early in their careers. Set against $15,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Forestry graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $46,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $21,811. Forestry graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $41,790 early in their careers. Set against $21,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in forestry will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $24,749 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $61,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Maine ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,618 to complete the forestry program here. Forestry graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $43,901 early in their careers. Set against $23,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,303, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,763. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Oregon State University placed #8 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,041 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $56,550. That is a strong return on a $24,041 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #9 among the best values for forestry. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $31,000. 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.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,200. Forestry graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $37,539 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College placed #11 among the best values for forestry. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, with out-of-state students paying around $17,272. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $33,288. Forestry graduates of Southern University And A And M College earn a median of $45,304 early in their careers. Set against $33,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 35%.
Auburn University earned the #12 position for value in forestry 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 forestry graduates is $20,500. Forestry graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $51,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #13 for value in forestry this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Forestry graduates carry a median of $20,919 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $45,817. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University placed #14 among the best values for forestry. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Forestry graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Other Forestry Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Forestry rankings across degree levels:
View All Forestry Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 14 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.
