by our College Data Analytics Team
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong forestry education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in forestry, no school beat University Of Idaho this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $47,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,342. Forestry graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $31,138 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #3 place for forestry. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,200. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $37,539. That is a strong return on a $24,200 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
This list is compiled 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.