2026 Best Forestry Schools in the Southwest Region

Forestry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their forestry programs.

For its 2026 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 Forestry Schools in the Southwest Region

Best Schools for Forestry in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall forestry education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Forestry

1

Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

115 Forestry Degrees Awarded

$41,790 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is Northern Arizona University, our #1 school for forestry. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Northern Arizona University awarded about 115 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $41,790 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,811. See the full forestry program report for Northern Arizona University

2

Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

66 Forestry Degrees Awarded

$39,953 Median Starting Salary

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Stephen F Austin State University awarded about 66 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $39,953 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250. Get the full forestry details for Stephen F Austin State University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 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.