by our College Data Analytics TeamForestry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 136 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for forestry students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
The school you choose for forestry can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Forestry Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Forestry Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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.
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for forestry. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 13 forestry degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $83,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in forestry from Duke University
Students looking for a strong forestry program will find one at Pennsylvania College Of Technology, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Williamsport. Pennsylvania College Of Technology graduates 45% of students within six years. About 19 forestry degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania College Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $36,719. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. More information about a degree in forestry from Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Students looking for a strong forestry program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 39 forestry degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $55,092 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in forestry from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of California Davis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 forestry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from University Of California Davis earn around $53,749 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404. More information about a degree in forestry from University Of California Davis
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for forestry. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 124 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $45,817 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $20,919 in student loans. See the full forestry program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #6 for forestry this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Read more about the forestry program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Auburn University came in at #7 for forestry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 60 forestry degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $51,421. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. Get the full forestry details for Auburn University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #8 position for forestry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 forestry students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $61,142 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,749. See the full forestry program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida landed the #9 spot for forestry this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 178 forestry degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $43,653 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,512 to complete this degree. See the full forestry program report for University Of Florida
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry earned the #10 position for forestry this year. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Syracuse. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 48 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in forestry from Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #11 position for forestry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $45,022 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. More information about a degree in forestry from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #12 spot for forestry this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 forestry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Read more about the forestry program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Green River Community College came in at #13 for forestry this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 20 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Green River Community College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in forestry from Green River Community College
University Of Georgia landed the #14 spot for forestry this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 79 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $46,687 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete this degree. Get the full forestry details for University Of Georgia
Humboldt State University came in at #15 for forestry this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in forestry from Humboldt State University
Oregon State University placed #16 among the best forestry schools. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 38 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $56,550 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in forestry from Oregon State University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #17 among the best forestry schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 18 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the forestry program make about $43,842 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $23,059 in student loans. Get the full forestry details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Mississippi State University placed #18 among the best forestry schools. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. About 67% of students finish within six years. Mississippi State University awarded about 50 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Mississippi State University earn around $40,219 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750. Get the full forestry details for Mississippi State University
University Of Vermont landed the #19 spot for forestry this year. This large public university is located in the city of Burlington. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Vermont awarded about 26 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Forestry graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete this degree. Read more about the forestry program at University Of Vermont
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #20 for forestry this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hibbing. About 16 forestry degrees were awarded at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn around $44,387 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,029. See the full forestry program report for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Clemson University placed #21 among the best forestry schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clemson University awarded about 27 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, forestry degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $53,850. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $24,700 in student loans. See the full forestry program report for Clemson University
University Of Idaho earned the #22 position for forestry this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Idaho awarded about 36 forestry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from University Of Idaho earn around $47,399 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in forestry from University Of Idaho
Northern Arizona University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best forestry schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 115 forestry degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $41,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,811. More information about a degree in forestry from Northern Arizona University
Iowa State University came in at #24 for forestry this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Iowa State University earn around $39,337 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $19,437 in student loans. Read more about the forestry program at Iowa State University
Hocking College placed #25 among the best forestry schools. Located in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 13 forestry students who graduated with this degree at Hocking College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their forestry degree from Hocking College earn around $37,713 in the first couple years of their career. Hocking College graduates carry a median of $16,535 in student loans. More information about a degree in forestry from Hocking College
These schools also placed among the best for forestry this year:
Explore the best forestry schools by region.
Forestry is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 136 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.