2027 Best Forestry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Forestry programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for forestry students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Forestry in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall forestry education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Forestry
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 school for forestry. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
See the full forestry program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Mid State Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in forestry, ranking #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. About 19 forestry degrees were awarded at Mid State Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $41,678 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,626 to complete this degree.
Read more about the forestry program at Mid State Technical College
Hocking College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 20 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Hocking College in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,713 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete this degree.
Get the full forestry details for Hocking College
Michigan State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best forestry schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $39,178 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in forestry from Michigan State University
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 83 forestry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $41,177 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,893.
Get the full forestry details for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Michigan Technological University earned the #6 position for forestry this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 29 forestry degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Forestry graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $45,771 early in their careers. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the forestry program at Michigan Technological University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #7 for forestry this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $35,398 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,512 to complete this degree.
Read more about the forestry program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 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.
