2026 Best Forestry Schools in the Far Western Region
Forestry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best forestry schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Forestry in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the forestry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Forestry
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in forestry. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 39 forestry degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their forestry degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $55,092 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full forestry program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 19 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
Read more about the forestry program at University Of California Davis
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the top schools for forestry. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 21 forestry degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $65,681 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
See the full forestry program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Green River Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. About 20 forestry degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in forestry from Green River Community College
Students looking for a strong forestry program will find one at Humboldt State University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. Humboldt State University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $52,810 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,173.
Read more about the forestry program at Humboldt State University
Oregon State University placed #6 among the best forestry schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 38 forestry degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Oregon State University earn around $56,550 in the first couple years of their career. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans.
See the full forestry program report for Oregon State University
University Of Nevada Reno earned the #7 position for forestry this year. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 18 forestry degrees were awarded at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $50,691 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,918 to complete this degree.
See the full forestry program report for University Of Nevada Reno
Reedley College earned the #8 position for forestry this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. There were roughly 123 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Reedley College in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full forestry details for Reedley College
Citrus College earned the #9 position for forestry this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. About 36 forestry degrees were awarded at Citrus College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in forestry from Citrus College
Columbia College Sonora placed #10 among the best forestry schools. Located in the rural area of Sonora, Columbia College Sonora is a mid-sized public university. About 14 forestry degrees were awarded at Columbia College Sonora in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Columbia College Sonora generally make around $103,727. Typical student debt for the program is $13,293.
See the full forestry program report for Columbia College Sonora
Lake Tahoe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the rural area of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Lake Tahoe Community College awarded about 42 forestry degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full forestry program report for Lake Tahoe Community College
Bakersfield College earned the #12 position for forestry this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. Bakersfield College graduates 50% of students within six years. Bakersfield College awarded about 10 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $86,312 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,419.
Read more about the forestry program at Bakersfield College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.
- 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.
