Natural resources and conservation ยท bachelor's degree
Forestry major: colleges and pay
45 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in forestry, 1,128 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $46,797 a year after graduating and $58,499 four years after.
Colleges offering it45
Graduates in 2023-241,128
Typical median debt$19,000
Typical earnings 1 yr after$46,797
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$58,499
Earnings to debt2.5x
Colleges where forestry graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 86 | $75,247 | $86,357 | $18,115 |
| California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA | 51 | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 40 | $45,731 | $77,419 | $15,000 |
| University of GeorgiaAthens, GA | 10 | n/a | $68,965 | n/a |
| Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA | 33 | $54,749 | $65,941 | $21,130 |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 30 | n/a | $64,704 | $18,500 |
| West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV | 16 | $46,977 | $64,568 | $15,000 |
| University of IdahoMoscow, ID | 31 | $53,681 | $64,392 | $12,723 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 99 | $47,556 | $64,204 | $19,750 |
| Clemson UniversityClemson, SC | 16 | $48,907 | $63,764 | $26,425 |
| Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | 30 | $52,331 | $62,919 | $19,500 |
| The University of MontanaMissoula, MT | 16 | n/a | $60,526 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | 18 | $46,446 | $58,651 | $16,750 |
| Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS | 31 | $50,109 | $58,499 | $15,500 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GA | 38 | $47,287 | $57,678 | $23,000 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NY | 24 | $46,942 | $57,664 | $12,875 |
| The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN | 26 | $44,077 | $57,436 | $21,500 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 11 | $43,795 | $56,754 | n/a |
| University of MaineOrono, ME | 14 | n/a | $56,124 | n/a |
| Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI | 23 | $42,781 | $55,912 | $21,500 |
| Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX | 58 | $53,457 | $55,786 | $20,750 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI | 60 | $43,796 | $55,724 | $18,875 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 19 | n/a | $55,724 | n/a |
| Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA | 28 | $42,466 | $52,650 | $22,413 |
| Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ | 49 | $43,678 | $52,191 | $17,500 |
Largest forestry programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 99 | $47,556 | $64,204 | $19,750 |
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 86 | $75,247 | $86,357 | $18,115 |
| University of FloridaGainesville, FL | 66 | $37,106 | $48,755 | $11,809 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI | 60 | $43,796 | $55,724 | $18,875 |
| Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX | 58 | $53,457 | $55,786 | $20,750 |
| California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA | 51 | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ | 49 | $43,678 | $52,191 | $17,500 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 40 | $45,731 | $77,419 | $15,000 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GA | 38 | $47,287 | $57,678 | $23,000 |
| Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL | 35 | $39,474 | $50,394 | $16,375 |
| Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA | 33 | $54,749 | $65,941 | $21,130 |
| University of IdahoMoscow, ID | 31 | $53,681 | $64,392 | $12,723 |
| Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS | 31 | $50,109 | $58,499 | $15,500 |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 30 | n/a | $64,704 | $18,500 |
| Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | 30 | $52,331 | $62,919 | $19,500 |
Graduate degrees in forestry
Master's: 30 programs, $56,462 first-year earnings; Doctoral: 20 programs. Compare graduate programs.
Every college with a forestry major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC | 86 | $75,247 | $86,357 | $18,115 |
| California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA | 51 | $45,692 | $79,849 | $19,122 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | 40 | $45,731 | $77,419 | $15,000 |
| University of GeorgiaAthens, GA | 10 | n/a | $68,965 | n/a |
| Louisiana Tech UniversityRuston, LA | 33 | $54,749 | $65,941 | $21,130 |
| Alabama A & M UniversityNormal, AL | 0 | n/a | $64,749 | n/a |
| Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL | 30 | n/a | $64,704 | $18,500 |
| West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV | 16 | $46,977 | $64,568 | $15,000 |
| University of IdahoMoscow, ID | 31 | $53,681 | $64,392 | $12,723 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA | 99 | $47,556 | $64,204 | $19,750 |
| Clemson UniversityClemson, SC | 16 | $48,907 | $63,764 | $26,425 |
| Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX | 6 | n/a | $63,468 | n/a |
| Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | 30 | $52,331 | $62,919 | $19,500 |
| The University of MontanaMissoula, MT | 16 | n/a | $60,526 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | 18 | $46,446 | $58,651 | $16,750 |
| Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS | 31 | $50,109 | $58,499 | $15,500 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GA | 38 | $47,287 | $57,678 | $23,000 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NY | 24 | $46,942 | $57,664 | $12,875 |
| The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN | 26 | $44,077 | $57,436 | $21,500 |
| Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN | 11 | $43,795 | $56,754 | n/a |
| University of MaineOrono, ME | 14 | n/a | $56,124 | n/a |
| Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI | 23 | $42,781 | $55,912 | $21,500 |
| Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX | 58 | $53,457 | $55,786 | $20,750 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI | 60 | $43,796 | $55,724 | $18,875 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 19 | n/a | $55,724 | n/a |
| Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA | 28 | $42,466 | $52,650 | $22,413 |
| Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ | 49 | $43,678 | $52,191 | $17,500 |
| University of KentuckyLexington, KY | 19 | n/a | $51,331 | n/a |
| Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL | 35 | $39,474 | $50,394 | $16,375 |
| Paul Smiths College of Arts and SciencePaul Smiths, NY | 8 | $51,465 | $49,291 | $21,500 |
| University of FloridaGainesville, FL | 66 | $37,106 | $48,755 | $11,809 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 15 | $46,652 | n/a | $22,458 |
| New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, NM | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Salish Kootenai CollegePablo, MT | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton Rouge, LA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of the SouthSewanee, TN | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-DavisDavis, CA | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of VermontBurlington, VT | 26 | n/a | n/a | $19,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Washington State UniversityPullman, WA | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do forestry majors make?
Graduates of the typical forestry program earned a median of $46,797 one year after graduation and $58,499 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid forestry graduates?
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, where graduates earned a median of $86,357 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a forestry major?
45 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in forestry in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.