by our College Data Analytics Team
[Forestry](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/forestry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong forestry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 136 schools to find the best return on investment for forestry students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study forestry affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Forestry Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Forestry Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in forestry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Reedley College, our #1 best value for forestry in the United States. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in forestry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place for forestry. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Forestry graduates carry a median of $15,512 in student loans. Forestry graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $43,653 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Wayne Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $5,500. Forestry graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Bakersfield College landed the #6 spot for forestry value this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Forestry graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #7 for value in forestry this year. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Forestry graduates carry a median of $12,622 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $36,135 early in their careers. Set against $12,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College placed #8 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,098, with out-of-state students paying around $4,363. Forestry graduates carry a median of $8,625 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Central Louisiana Technical Community College earn a median of $18,707 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,625 median debt.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College landed the #9 spot for forestry value this year. Located in the town of Tifton, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,268 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,588 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,282 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $40,065. Set against $20,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College admits about 76% of applicants.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $17,029. Forestry graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
Allegany College Of Maryland landed the #11 spot for forestry value this year. Set in the town of Cumberland, Allegany College Of Maryland is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,620 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $18,823 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $42,542. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jones County Junior College earned the #12 position for value in forestry this year. Set in the town of Ellisville, Jones County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $9,559 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Jones County Junior College earn a median of $33,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,559 median debt.
Sowela Technical Community College landed the #13 spot for forestry value this year. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,305. Students borrow a median of $7,391 to complete the forestry program here. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Sowela Technical Community College generally make around $45,827. Set against $7,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Green River Community College placed #14 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,711, with out-of-state students paying around $5,263. Median earnings reach $50,712 ten years out.
Humboldt State University landed the #15 spot for forestry value this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $22,173. Forestry graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $52,810 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Tahoe Community College placed #16 among the best values for forestry. Located in the rural area of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,131 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,103. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,657 ten years after entry.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #17 among the best values for forestry. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Forestry graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career forestry graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Hocking College landed the #18 spot for forestry value this year. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $37,713. That is a strong return on a $16,535 median debt.
Louisiana Tech University landed the #19 spot for forestry value this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,125 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,250. Early-career forestry graduates make about $44,120. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Georgia ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Forestry graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Forestry graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $46,687 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
West Virginia University placed #21 among the best values for forestry. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Forestry graduates carry a median of $23,371 in student loans. Forestry graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $43,228 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,371 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value forestry schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Forestry graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Forestry graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $45,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Idaho came in at #23 for value in forestry this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the forestry program here. Early-career forestry graduates make about $47,399. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #24 spot for forestry value this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $24,893. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,177. Set against $24,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of California Davis landed the #25 spot for forestry value this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for forestry graduates is $14,404. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in forestry:
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Forestry is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
This ranking is produced 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 · 136 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.