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2026 Best Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools

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

#3

University Of Georgia

Athens, GA

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

#4

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

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

#5

Auburn University

Auburn, AL

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

#7

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

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

#12

Purdue University Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

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

#13

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

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

#14

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

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

#16

University Of Florida

Gainesville, FL

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

#17

University Of Maine

Orono, ME

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

#18

The University Of Montana

Missoula, MT

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

#19

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ

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 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 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

Compare rankings at other degree levels:

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

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