U.S. median for this major: $58,499.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 56% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,607.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Forestry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses MSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,068 | $29,968 | 1.3 years |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 4.3 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 5.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Forestry graduates 4 years after graduating ($55,724) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,313 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Forestry at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Forestry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Technological University | $55,912 | $27,000 | $14,182 | 68% |
| 2 | Michigan State University | $55,724 | $31,000 | $19,680 | 81% |
Careers for Forestry graduates
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
MSU Forestry questions
How much do MSU Forestry graduates earn?
Forestry graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $55,724 four years after graduating and $39,178 one year after. The U.S. median for Forestry graduates across 31 colleges is $58,499.
How much debt do MSU Forestry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Forestry graduates of Michigan State University is $31,000, about 56% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,607.
Where does MSU rank for Forestry in Michigan?
Of 2 Michigan colleges reporting Forestry graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 2nd. The highest is Michigan Technological University at $55,912.
What jobs do Forestry graduates get?
A common career is conservation scientists, with a median wage of $67,580 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $73,010 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Michigan State University Forestry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/forestry (College Scorecard and BLS data).