by our College Data Analytics Team
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 4 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forestry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, our #1 best value for forestry in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,303 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,263. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,763. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned it the #2 place for forestry. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $36,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,009. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $25,443. Forestry graduates of Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science earn a median of $44,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in forestry will find it at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $21,429 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $41,189. Set against $21,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.