Best Schools for Forestry

Forestry graduates earn a median of $40,099 within two years of graduation, ranking #115 out of 292 tracked majors — 13% above the median across all fields. There are 26 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,003 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates earn $66,941 while University of Florida graduates earn $30,771 — a $36,170 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Forestry graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

26
Schools
$40,099
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#115
of 292 Majors
1,003
Graduates

Public vs Private: Forestry

Public (25 schools)
$40,171
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (1 schools)
$38,289
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Forestry, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Forestry by State

Top Forestry Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$66,941
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,960
Grads: 83
Acceptance: 39.9%
#2
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,710
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 78.8%
#3
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,710
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 68.4%
#4
M

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,301
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 76.3%
#5
U

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,980
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 37.2%
#6
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,187
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 77.0%
#7
M

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

$43,240
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,262
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 87.9%
#8
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$40,768
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,417
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 29.8%
#9
A

Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public

$40,461
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,039
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 50.5%
#10
U

University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV · Public

$39,927
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,598
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 85.3%
#11
S

Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public

$39,909
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,014
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 88.3%
#12
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,805
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 98.8%
#13
P

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science

Paul Smiths, NY · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,225
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 90.7%
#14
V

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,479
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 57.0%
#15
U

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$37,748
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,917
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 79.1%
#16
N

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public

$37,568
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,618
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 91.0%
#17
A

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton, GA · Public

$36,668
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,706
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 77.2%
#18
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$36,141
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.4%
#19
S

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$36,094
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,133
Grads: 69
Acceptance: 90.4%
#20
T

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT · Public

$35,823
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,452
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 95.6%
#21
U

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Stevens Point, WI · Public

$35,670
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,992
Grads: 127
Acceptance: 90.1%
#22
C

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,121
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 38.0%
#23
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$34,348
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,406
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 89.1%
#24
W

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,623
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 86.3%
#25
C

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,221
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 89.6%
#26
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,521
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 24.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Forestry?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranks #1 for Forestry with median graduate earnings of $66,941 within two years. There are 26 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Forestry graduates earn?
Forestry graduates earn an average of $40,099 within two years of graduation. This is 13% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $30,771 to $66,941 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Forestry program?
The average acceptance rate across Forestry programs is 73.4%. The most selective program is at University of Florida with a 24.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Forestry?
Private Forestry programs average $38,289 in early earnings vs $40,171 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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