2026 Best Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Forestry doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 136 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is North Carolina State University At Raleigh, our #1 Forestry school in the United States. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,749 in student loans. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on this year's Forestry ranking in the United States. Set in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the top choices in the United States. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans. Read more about University Of Georgia
You'll be in good company at Oregon State University, which ranked #4 this year. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Typical Forestry student debt is $24,043. Read the full report on Oregon State University
You'll be in good company at Auburn University, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Auburn University posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Auburn University Forestry students take on a median of $20,500 in debt. Get the full Auburn University report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University Forestry students take on a median of $20,919 in debt. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Clemson University landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Graduates carry a median of $24,700 in student loans. Read the full report on Clemson University
Michigan Technological University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Michigan Technological University is a public school based in Houghton, MI. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Typical Forestry student debt is $27,000. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Syracuse, NY. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Students from in state pay about $9,303 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263. Read the full report on Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
Iowa State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,437 to complete their Forestry program here. Read the full report on Iowa State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical Forestry student debt is $21,813. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. About 83% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
West Virginia University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Based in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical Forestry student debt is $23,371. Read the full report on West Virginia University
Michigan State University placed #14 among Forestry schools in the United States. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Michigan State University Forestry students take on a median of $31,000 in debt. More on Michigan State University
Colorado State University Fort Collins did well this year, earning the #15 position. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school based in Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. The median Forestry program debt is $24,200. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Florida came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $15,512 to complete their Forestry program here. Read more about University Of Florida
University Of Maine placed #17 among Forestry schools in the United States. Based in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,618 to complete their Forestry program here. Read more about University Of Maine
The University Of Montana ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. The University Of Montana is a public school based in Missoula, MT. About 49% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. More on The University Of Montana
Northern Arizona University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Set in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. The median Forestry program debt is $21,811. Read more about Northern Arizona University
Sewanee The University Of The South did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Sewanee The University Of The South
Jones County Junior College did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on Jones County Junior College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois report
Francis Marion University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Francis Marion University report
University Of Missouri Columbia did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full University Of Missouri Columbia profile
Eastern Oklahoma State College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Eastern Oklahoma State College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of Connecticut placed #26 among Forestry schools in the United States. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
East Mississippi Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read the full report on East Mississippi Community College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
Hocking College
Hocking College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Get the full Hocking College report
Sowela Technical Community College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full Sowela Technical Community College profile
Gateway Technical College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Gateway Technical College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read the full report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University Of Idaho did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about University Of Idaho
Grays Harbor College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. See the full Grays Harbor College profile
Mississippi State University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mississippi State University report
Citrus College
Citrus College placed #36 among Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about Citrus College
College Of Lake County landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on College Of Lake County
Modesto Junior College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read the full report on Modesto Junior College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Haywood Community College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Haywood Community College
University Of Maryland College Park did well this year, earning the #41 position. Get the full University Of Maryland College Park report
Eastern Arizona College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. More on Eastern Arizona College
Glenville State College placed #43 among Forestry schools in the United States. Get the full Glenville State College report
Ogeechee Technical College did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Ogeechee Technical College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Vermont Technical College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. See the full Vermont Technical College profile
Mid State Technical College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. More on Mid State Technical College
Pennsylvania College Of Technology placed #48 among Forestry schools in the United States. See the full Pennsylvania College Of Technology profile
Kent State University At Salem placed #49 among Forestry schools in the United States. More on Kent State University At Salem
University Of Arkansas At Monticello ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas At Monticello
Related Forestry Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Forestry Schools (All Levels)
- Best Forestry Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Forestry Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Forestry Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Forestry Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Forestry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Forestry Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 136 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).