2026 Best Forestry Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Forestry master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 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 analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Forestry Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Durham, NC. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. See the full Duke University profile
Out of the 136 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $24,749 in student loans. Get the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh report
Out of the 136 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Georgia landed the #3 spot. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. The median Forestry program debt is $22,607. See the full University Of Georgia profile
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. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Oregon State University Forestry students take on a median of $24,043 in debt. More on Oregon State University
Out of the 136 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #5 spot. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical Forestry student debt is $20,919. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of California Berkeley landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Auburn University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. The median Forestry program debt is $20,500. Get the full Auburn University report
Clemson University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Typical Forestry student debt is $24,700. Read the full report on Clemson University
Michigan Technological University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Located in Syracuse, NY, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,303, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. See the full Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry profile
Iowa State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Iowa State University Forestry students take on a median of $19,437 in debt. See the full Iowa State University profile
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete their Forestry program here. Read more about Purdue University Main Campus
Mississippi State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Get the full Mississippi State University report
West Virginia University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Typical Forestry student debt is $23,371. More on West Virginia University
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school based in Fort Collins, CO. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. The median Forestry program debt is $24,200. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #17 among Forestry schools in the United States. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. The median Forestry program debt is $17,000. Read more about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Michigan State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 81%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Read more about Michigan State University
Stephen F Austin State University placed #19 among Forestry schools in the United States. Stephen F Austin State University is a public school based in Nacogdoches, TX. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $20,968. Typical Forestry student debt is $22,250. See the full Stephen F Austin State University profile
University Of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Lexington, KY, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. University Of Kentucky posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. See the full University Of Kentucky profile
University Of Florida landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. University Of Florida Forestry students take on a median of $15,512 in debt. Read more about University Of Florida
University Of Maine placed #22 among Forestry schools in the United States. University Of Maine is a public school based in Orono, ME. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. The median Forestry program debt is $23,618. More on University Of Maine
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #23 among Forestry schools in the United States. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school based in Carbondale, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Southern Illinois University Carbondale Forestry students take on a median of $21,512 in debt. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
The University Of Tennessee landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Located in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #25 position. The University Of Montana is a public school based in Missoula, MT. About 49% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical Forestry student debt is $24,342. More on The University Of Montana
Rest of the Top 50 Best Forestry Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Northern Arizona University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Northern Arizona University is a public school based in Flagstaff, AZ. Northern Arizona University posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,811 to complete their Forestry program here. Get the full Northern Arizona University report
Holmes Community College placed #27 among Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about Holmes Community College
Snow College
Snow College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read more about Snow College
University Of Idaho ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Get the full University Of Idaho report
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Bakersfield College placed #32 among Forestry schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bakersfield College
Leech Lake Tribal College placed #33 among Forestry schools in the United States. See the full Leech Lake Tribal College profile
Montgomery Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read the full report on Montgomery Community College
Eastern Oklahoma State College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Eastern Oklahoma State College
Gogebic Community College placed #36 among Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about Gogebic Community College
Ogeechee Technical College did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on Ogeechee Technical College
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald placed #38 among Forestry schools in the United States. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald profile
Western Nebraska Community College did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on Western Nebraska Community College
Sowela Technical Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. More on Sowela Technical Community College
Coastal Pines Technical College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read more about Coastal Pines Technical College
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Read more about Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #43 among Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
University Of Vermont ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. Get the full University Of Vermont report
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Missouri Columbia
Jones County Junior College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Forestry schools. More on Jones County Junior College
Southeastern Technical College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southeastern Technical College
Green River Community College placed #48 among Forestry schools in the United States. More on Green River Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. See the full Southwestern Oregon Community College profile
Northwest Technical College placed #50 among Forestry schools in the United States. See the full Northwest Technical College profile
Related Forestry Rankings
Explore 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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).
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