Forestry at Auburn University

Auburn's forestry program places graduates well above most forestry programs nationally—in the 91st percentile for earnings—with first-year salaries around $51,400 that beat the national median by nearly $8,400. The $20,500 debt load translates to a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than five months of their first year's salary. With only three forestry programs in Alabama, your options for in-state tuition are limited, and Auburn sits right at the state median for both earnings and debt.

The caveat here matters: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary considerably from these numbers. Earnings also show minimal growth over the first four years (just 2%), which is typical for forestry careers where salaries tend to stabilize rather than climb dramatically. The field itself—managing forests, conducting timber surveys, enforcing conservation regulations—offers steady work but rarely rapid salary progression.

For families comfortable with Auburn's moderately selective admissions and looking at forestry as a career path, the financial picture looks reasonable. You're paying roughly half a year's salary in debt for access to a specialized field where Auburn clearly outperforms most competitors nationally. Just recognize you're evaluating limited data and a career track where the $52,000 range may represent the norm rather than a launching point.