Best Forestry Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
25
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$51,899
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$28,071
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Grad rate: 84.6% |
NC | +$510,876 | $74,337 | $25,613 | $24,749 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Grad rate: 53.7% |
OR | +$185,296 | $56,757 | $27,461 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Oregon State University
Grad rate: 70.3% |
OR | +$175,436 | $56,757 | $29,926 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Grad rate: 84.6% |
MN | +$152,818 | $57,000 | $29,013 | $23,059 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Georgia
Grad rate: 87.6% |
GA | +$38,696 | $50,948 | $27,436 | $22,607 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Michigan Technological University
Grad rate: 68.2% |
MI | +$30,830 | $51,874 | $32,550 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Auburn University
Grad rate: 80.0% |
AL | +$25,317 | $51,530 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Northern Arizona University
Grad rate: 58.0% |
AZ | +$1,457 | $49,504 | $29,495 | $22,698 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Grad rate: 56.0% |
WI | -$11,821 | $46,850 | $18,804 | $24,893 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Mississippi State University
Grad rate: 63.0% |
MS | -$23,710 | $47,532 | $26,922 | $19,750 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Grad rate: 46.1% |
CA | -$42,781 | $46,240 | $24,412 | $22,173 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
University of Idaho
Grad rate: 61.0% |
ID | -$64,376 | $44,530 | $22,669 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of Kentucky
Grad rate: 69.3% |
KY | -$68,904 | $45,013 | $32,291 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate: 85.3% |
CA | -$84,822 | $44,890 | $29,918 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grad rate: 86.3% |
VA | -$116,800 | $43,980 | $32,040 | $20,919 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Grad rate: 34.7% |
GA | -$132,232 | $39,378 | $13,103 | $20,282 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Grad rate: 52.5% |
IL | -$137,193 | $42,446 | $29,268 | $21,512 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
West Virginia University
Grad rate: 61.7% |
WV | -$157,462 | $40,440 | $23,678 | $23,371 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
The University of Montana
Grad rate: 45.9% |
MT | -$175,456 | $37,976 | $23,744 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Iowa State University
Grad rate: 75.0% |
IA | -$193,435 | $38,302 | $23,309 | $19,437 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
University of Missouri-Columbia
Grad rate: 75.7% |
MO | -$200,332 | $37,773 | $28,948 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Grad rate: 53.9% |
NY | -$203,000 | $42,023 | $50,865 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Grad rate: 66.8% |
CO | -$239,834 | $37,581 | $29,696 | $24,200 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
University of Florida
Grad rate: 90.7% |
FL | -$266,757 | $34,053 | $21,719 | $15,512 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Clemson University
Grad rate: 86.6% |
SC | -$299,301 | $35,601 | $34,494 | $24,700 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Forestry Degrees by State
Browse Forestry programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.