Forestry: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Forestry graduates earn a median $58,784 four years after finishing — $10,424/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 6.5 years. Federal data pools 54 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,095 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Forestry ranks #114 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 44% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | NC | $86,357 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | CA | $79,849 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $77,419 |
| 4 | University of Georgia | GA | $68,965 |
| 5 | Louisiana Tech University | LA | $65,941 |
| 6 | Alabama A & M University | AL | $64,749 |
| 7 | Auburn University | AL | $64,704 |
| 8 | West Virginia University | WV | $64,568 |
| 9 | University of Idaho | ID | $64,392 |
| 10 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $64,204 |
| 11 | Clemson University | SC | $63,764 |
| 12 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $63,468 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Forestry pay grow after graduation?
From $40,314 one year out to $58,784 four years out — a $18,470 climb, or 46% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Forestry each year?
About 1,095 bachelor's graduates a year across 54 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.