2026 Best Value Forestry Schools in the The Plains States 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Forestry Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the forestry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Forestry Schools
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #1 spot for value among forestry schools in the The Plains States Region. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Forestry graduates carry a median of $17,029 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,059 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $43,842. Set against $23,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in forestry will find it at Iowa State University, which ranked #3. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Forestry graduates carry a median of $19,437 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $39,337. That is a strong return on a $19,437 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
