by our College Data Analytics Team
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a forestry degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the early-career earnings of their forestry graduates.
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Below are the schools whose forestry graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Oregon State University the top school for forestry graduate earnings in the United States. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $74,096 annually.
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the highest-paying schools for forestry. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh typically earn about $71,695 annually.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo typically earn about $73,077 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in forestry will find them at University Of Georgia, which ranked #4. University Of Georgia is a public school located in the city of Athens. Students who complete the forestry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,045.
Humboldt State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in forestry, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from Humboldt State University make a median of around $63,673 per year.
Auburn University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Forestry graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $60,170 a year early in their careers.
Clemson University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for forestry. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $52,490 annually.
University Of Idaho placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for forestry. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Students who complete the forestry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,155.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #9 position for forestry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $61,907 annually.
Michigan Technological University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for forestry. Michigan Technological University is a public school located in the town of Houghton. Early-career forestry graduates from Michigan Technological University make a median of around $61,635 per year.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #11 position for forestry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the forestry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,496.
Mississippi State University landed the #12 spot for forestry salaries this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from Mississippi State University make a median of around $65,848 per year.
Northern Arizona University landed the #13 spot for forestry salaries this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Northern Arizona University typically earn about $61,641 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #14 spot for forestry salaries this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. Forestry graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of about $59,190 a year early in their careers.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science landed the #15 spot for forestry salaries this year. Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paul Smiths. Early-career forestry graduates from Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science make a median of around $54,245 per year.
West Virginia University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from West Virginia University typically earn about $53,335 annually.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for forestry. Located in the town of Tifton, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a public institution. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College typically earn about $52,758 annually.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. Louisiana Tech University is a public school located in the town of Ruston. Forestry graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of about $44,120 a year early in their careers.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #19 for forestry graduate earnings this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Forestry graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of about $53,875 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maine landed the #20 spot for forestry salaries this year. University Of Maine is a public school located in the suburb of Orono. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from University Of Maine typically earn about $43,901 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for forestry salaries this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, forestry degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $43,029 annually.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for forestry. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $54,092 per year.
Iowa State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from Iowa State University make a median of around $45,342 per year.
University Of Kentucky ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying forestry schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from University Of Kentucky make a median of around $54,734 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #25 position for forestry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career forestry graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $40,314 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning forestry graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Forestry rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries forestry graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 30 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.