Illinois · Forestry

Best Forestry institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

Institutions
2
offering CIP 03.05
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
46
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$35,398
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Foresters
$77,880
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,3984562%$21,512

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Foresters (SOC 19-1032).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~1,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$70,660
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingMonitoringWriting

What Foresters earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
170
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$77,880
median $75,160
Best-paying metro
$79,670
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Forest and Conservation Technicians
$47,650 avg · 960 jobs
Conservation Scientists
$74,990 avg · 730 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$72,680 avg · 310 jobs
Foresters
$77,880 avg · 170 jobs
Forest and Conservation Workers
$67,450 avg · 60 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Forestry programs in Illinois.

Which Forestry program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Southern Illinois University - Carbondale tops the list at $35,398. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Foresters earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Foresters in Illinois is $77,880 (median $75,160), across about 170 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Forestry program?+

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Foresters?+

The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card