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.
Public vs Private: Forestry
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
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR · Public
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Bend, OR · Public
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS · Public
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · Public
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · Public
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public
Auburn University
Auburn, AL · Public
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV · Public
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX · Public
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · Public
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Paul Smiths, NY · Private
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID · Public
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tifton, GA · Public
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · Public
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT · Public
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · Public
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · Public
Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · Public
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
Majors with Similar Earnings
Frequently Asked Questions
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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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