2026 Best Forestry Schools in California
Forestry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their forestry programs.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best forestry schools.
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Best Schools for Forestry in California
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 tops our 2026 ranking of the best forestry schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
Read more about the forestry program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 19 forestry degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Forestry graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in forestry from University Of California Davis
A rank of #3 makes Humboldt State University one of the top schools for forestry. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Arcata. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Humboldt State University generally make around $52,810. Humboldt State University graduates carry a median of $22,173 in student loans.
More information about a degree in forestry from Humboldt State University
Reedley College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. This large public university is located in the town of Reedley. About 123 forestry degrees were awarded at Reedley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Reedley College earn around $30,520 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete this degree.
See the full forestry program report for Reedley College
Citrus College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in forestry, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of Glendora. About 36 forestry degrees were awarded at Citrus College in the most recent year.
Get the full forestry details for Citrus College
Columbia College Sonora ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the rural area of Sonora, Columbia College Sonora is a mid-sized public institution. Columbia College Sonora awarded about 14 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Columbia College Sonora earn a median of $103,727 early in their careers. Columbia College Sonora graduates carry a median of $13,293 in student loans.
See the full forestry program report for Columbia College Sonora
Lake Tahoe Community College landed the #7 spot for forestry this year. Located in the rural area of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 42 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Lake Tahoe Community College in the most recent data year.
Get the full forestry details for Lake Tahoe Community College
Bakersfield College landed the #8 spot for forestry this year. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Bakersfield College graduates 50% of students within six years. Bakersfield College awarded about 10 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Bakersfield College earn a median of $86,312 early in their careers. 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
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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.
