2026 Best Value Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Forestry doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 136 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is North Carolina State University At Raleigh, our #1 best-value Forestry school in the United States. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. North Carolina State University At Raleigh Forestry students take on a median of $24,749 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $68,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read more about North Carolina State University At Raleigh
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Georgia earned it the #2 place in the United States. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. The median Forestry program debt is $22,607. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 38% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Georgia
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan Technological University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Michigan Technological University alumni report median earnings of $78,198 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%. Read more about Michigan Technological University
A rank of #3 makes Clemson University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Clemson University Forestry students take on a median of $24,700 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants. Read more about Clemson University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on this year's best-value Forestry ranking in the United States. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete their Forestry program here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus alumni report median earnings of $78,466 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Oregon State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical Forestry student debt is $24,043. Median earnings reach $64,010 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants. Read the full report on Oregon State University
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a public school based in Syracuse, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,303, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263. Median earnings reach $55,763 ten years out. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry has an acceptance rate of 63%. See the full Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #8 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,792 ten years after entry. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 45% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Auburn University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Based in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Auburn University Forestry students take on a median of $20,500 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $65,337. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Auburn University has an acceptance rate of 46%. Read the full report on Auburn University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. The median Forestry program debt is $20,919. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $81,698. That is a strong return on a $20,919 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Ames, IA. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical Forestry student debt is $19,437. Iowa State University alumni report median earnings of $63,386 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,437 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Iowa State University
West Virginia University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. West Virginia University is a public school based in Morgantown, WV. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. West Virginia University Forestry students take on a median of $23,371 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,939. That is a strong return on a $23,371 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Get the full West Virginia University report
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Purdue University Main Campus Forestry students take on a median of $19,844 in debt. Purdue University Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $72,424 a decade after entry. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 50%. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school based in Fort Collins, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Graduates carry a median of $24,200 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,543 ten years after entry. Set against $24,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins has an acceptance rate of 88%. More on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Florida placed #15 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,512 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. More on University Of Florida
Northern Arizona University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical Forestry student debt is $21,811. Median earnings reach $54,384 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 90% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Northern Arizona University profile
University Of Maine came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. University Of Maine is a public school based in Orono, ME. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Typical Forestry student debt is $23,618. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%. More on University Of Maine
Michigan State University placed #18 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,253. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. More on Michigan State University
The University Of Montana came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Based in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,511 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. About 96% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on The University Of Montana
Eastern Arizona College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Eastern Arizona College report
Muskegon Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. More on Muskegon Community College
Southwestern Oregon Community College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Southwestern Oregon Community College
University Of Kentucky ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Read more about University Of Kentucky
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Horry Georgetown Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Forestry Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Sowela Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Sowela Technical Community College profile
Butte College
Butte College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Read the full report on Butte College
Sierra College
Sierra College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Sierra College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. More on University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Haywood Community College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Haywood Community College
Kent State University At Ashtabula came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Kent State University At Ashtabula report
University Of Nebraska Lincoln offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Reedley College
Reedley College placed #34 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. More on Reedley College
Glenville State College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Glenville State College profile
Tuskegee University placed #36 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about Tuskegee University
University Of Idaho landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Idaho report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Mont Alto came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Mont Alto profile
Mississippi State University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mississippi State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
Dakota College At Bottineau ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. See the full Dakota College At Bottineau profile
Bakersfield College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Bakersfield College
Kent State University At East Liverpool ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Forestry schools. Get the full Kent State University At East Liverpool report
Salish Kootenai College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. More on Salish Kootenai College
University Of Maine At Fort Kent offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. See the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent profile
Lake Tahoe Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Lake Tahoe Community College
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Texas A And M University College Station
Grays Harbor College placed #49 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. See the full Grays Harbor College profile
Kent State University At Trumbull placed #50 among the best-value Forestry schools in the United States. Read more about Kent State University At Trumbull
Related Forestry Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Forestry Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Forestry Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Forestry Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Forestry Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Forestry Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Forestry Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Forestry Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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