2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in North Carolina

[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for forestry students.
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2027 Best Value Forestry Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forestry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Wayne Community College earned the #1 spot for value among forestry schools in North Carolina. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Forestry graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Haywood Community College earned it the #2 place for forestry. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, with out-of-state students paying around $8,724. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Haywood Community College generally make around $35,767.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $24,749 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $61,142. Set against $24,749 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Duke University earned it the #4 place for forestry. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $13,296. Early-career forestry graduates make about $83,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.