2026 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Forest Sciences & Biology](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/forest-sciences-and-biology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for forest sciences & biology students.
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2026 Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forest sciences & biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Forest Sciences & Biology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point, our #1 best value for forest sciences & biology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,893 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $41,177. Set against $24,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for forest sciences & biology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Forest Sciences & Biology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
A rank of #3 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for forest sciences & biology. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Typical student debt for forest sciences & biology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, forest sciences & biology degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $45,771. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in forest sciences & biology will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $21,512 to complete the forest sciences & biology program here. Early-career forest sciences & biology graduates make about $35,398. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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.
