My son is an outdoors kid and has expressed an interest in forestry programs. I have been able to find schools that have forestry programs on USNWR, Niche, College Factual, College Gazette, and general internet searches, but I have not been able to find rankings on forestry programs. I have seen overall college rankings for schools that have forestry programs, and rankings of either agricultural programs or environmental science programs that offer forestry, but nothing that drills down to the forestry program. Schools that are on our radar include Michigan Tech, MSU, NC State, UWA - Seattle, UGA, UFL, UMN - Minneapolis and UID - Moscow (only because it is out west).
Has anyone here gone to school for forestry or has a student who has and can shed some light on the quality of various schools? I’d also be interested in career tracks, both public and private. (We have seen data on outcomes for forestry students and will make sure Thing #2 understands that A. he would make more money tending bar or selling cell phones, and B. he can’t live in our basement.)
The good news is that we are in MI, and Michigan Tech and MSU have forestry programs, and Tech is supposedly pretty strong. Thing #2 went to a summer chemistry program at Tech and really liked it. This coming summer he’ll attend a forestry/environmental science program there.
I would love to learn from your experiences. Thanks.
Everyone I know who has gone to SUNY ESF loves it! It’s pretty much on the Syracuse campus (entrance is right near my daughter’s dorm) and I know they have some privileges at SU too. I don’t know the details though.
Have you looked into Oregon State University? I have heard good things about their program. I knew someone that used to work for a Forestry company and most had graduated from Oregon State. If your son likes the outdoors you can’t go wrong in Oregon.
Forgot to mention. They do have a Bend, OR campus too which is smaller and close to skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities.
My husband and I just retired with 67 combined career years in forestry. We both worked for various federal government agencies.
An aspiring forester should attend a Society of American Foresters accredited institution. These are listed on the SAF website: Accreditation
Unaccredited programs may not prepare a student for meeting the qualifications required by federal agencies which are the largest employers of professional foresters in the U.S. Other employers may also require degrees from SAF accredited programs.
My opinion is that no employer is going to be concerned with rankings of forestry programs, only that they have a degree from an accredited college. That being said, I have heard good things about Michigan Tech. It is a very well regarded program and I wouldn’t look any further outside of Michigan unless your schools have low acceptance rates for forestry majors.
As for low salaries, typically that is only for entry level foresters and those that aren’t willing to relocate for promotions. My husband and I both retired earning 6 figure salaries, but we relocated several times.
I will advise that forestry is a very challenging major. I’m attaching a link to the curriculum checklist for Virginia Tech which also has a very well respected forestry program (my daughter is in grad school there, and also got her engineering degree there). You can see the different focus areas that may be offered at accredited schools and the rigor of the curriculum.
You are lucky to be in-state and have Michigan Tech as an option. It is a great program. I’d also add Colorado State. The Colorado State Forest Service is connected to CSU and it’s fairly easy to get a summer job/internship through the College of Natural Resources.
Upon graduation, no one will look at rankings, but they will look at specific programs and the type of graduate they are known to produce as well as the skills and certifications you have collected. S23 is only in his first year at CSU, but they have already helped him write an amazing resume (he came in with a lot of skills).
When looking at programs, see what specializations, certifications or minors he can add to a Forestry major. S23 (Wildlife Conservation and Biology, but was also considering Forestry and has connections to friends and professors in that domain) added a second major in Human Development of Natural Resources and a Geospatial Information Systems minor.
ESF/Syracuse is hyper-focused on forestry, however, my son found it not well-rounded enough (he wanted a broader experience). I’ve heard they are making cuts to some programs as well, so that is something to check out.
It might be worth looking at Oregon State if he wants to be out west.
As you didn’t mention budget, but you did mention earning potential, I’d concentrate on MTech and MSU. They are both great programs and between the two you have a large school school in a mid-size city and a smaller school in a rural (but absolutely beautiful) area with plentiful outdoor activities. If he’s an outdoors kid, he might lean toward Tech.
We have a friend who worked for the MI DNR and she said they liked to hire MI Tech grads because they had more hands-on experience than Spartans. We are just beginning to research schools, but so far Tech seems to be in the pole position. Thing #2 was there last summer and really liked it.
I am not sure if he will be interested in programs out west, but U Washington, Idaho, Colorado and Oregon State would be in the running if he is.
Thanks for the accreditation link and VA Tech curriculum. Our son’s high school has a strong STEM course list and he is scheduled to take AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Environmental Science and electives like Micro Biology/Genetics. I have already spoken with an admissions counselor at MI Tech to make sure he is taking the classes they want to see on a transcript.
Be careful with how you apply AP credits at Michigan Tech. Only use those that will apply to your major as after 60 credits, tuition goes up by 2K. I believe it’s the same with CSU.
While you have wonderful in-state options, the West is kind of special and might appeal to your son. When you’re looking at Idaho, check out WSU as well. They’re right next to each other and are a power duo for forestry / ecology / wildlife type stuff. He might also check out Utah State (the Aggies). It has nearly unparalleled access to outdoorsy stuff, and I have a friend who did forestry there and has enjoyed a very successful career. Like you truly can go backcountry skiing in the morning before your classes.
Colorado State is just a great school, D1 for sports, vet school, engineering, several Native American programs (and a lot of forests are on Native land).
U of Wisconsin Stevens Point.
Both schools have a lot of financial aid available.
S23 is at CSU and I can’t say enough good things about for a kid that likes the outdoors. He has been hiking, camping, mountain biking or exploring every single weekend. I am in awe of the wildlife pictures he sends me. I joke that while other parents are worried about their kid partying on the weekend, I worry about mine playing with tarantulas and buffalo. He loves the big school experience while he’s in a program that makes it feel small and personal. There is also an incredible Honors program.
OP is from Michigan, not Minn, but tuition at UWSP is pretty low and the cost of living is also low. The school is right next to a preserve with great walking paths and near Sentry World golf course, which hosted the US Senior Open last year. The school has forestry but also Water and Soil (mud) majors, and most kids end up with degrees in Water, Soil, Chem and Bio as there is a lot of cross over, and the Forestry majors jump in too. There are commercial forestry operations in the area for internships (Christmas tree farms) and it’s just a casual place to learn a lot. It is D3 for sports, but has won the hockey trophy a few times.
good luck!!