2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in the Southeast Region
[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 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for forestry students.
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2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forestry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Coastal Pines Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,268 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $39,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne Community College earned it the #2 place for forestry. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $7,500. Forestry graduates of Lurleen B Wallace Community College earn a median of $36,027 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $15,512 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $43,653. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Students borrow a median of $12,622 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $36,135. That is a strong return on a $12,622 median debt.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,098 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,363 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $8,625. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Central Louisiana Technical Community College generally make around $18,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Haywood Community College landed the #7 spot for forestry value this year. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,580, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $35,767 early in their careers.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value forestry schools. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Tifton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $10,588. Students borrow a median of $20,282 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College generally make around $40,065. Set against $20,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Louisiana Tech University placed #9 among the best values for forestry. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,125 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Forestry graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $44,120 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Georgia earned the #10 position for value in forestry this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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 $46,687. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #11 spot for forestry value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,749. Forestry graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $61,142 early in their careers. Set against $24,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
West Virginia University earned the #12 position for value in forestry this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $23,371 in student loans. Forestry graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $43,228 early in their careers. Set against $23,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello earned the #13 position for value in forestry this year. Set in the town of Monticello, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $15,611. Early-career forestry graduates make about $41,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi State University came in at #14 for value in forestry this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Forestry graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $40,219. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kentucky came in at #15 for value in forestry this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,094. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $32,573. That is a strong return on a $24,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #16 spot for forestry value this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $31,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #17 position for value in forestry this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,922 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $33,288. Early-career forestry graduates make about $45,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University came in at #18 for value in forestry this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Forestry graduates carry a median of $24,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,850. That is a strong return on a $24,700 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Auburn University came in at #19 for value in forestry this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $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 earned the #20 position for value in forestry this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $20,919 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $45,817. Set against $20,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University landed the #21 spot for forestry value this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the forestry program here. 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. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
