Forestry at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 makes this forestry program more accessible than many bachelor's degrees, though the modest first-year salary of around $43,000—based on national forestry program outcomes—means graduates aren't exactly flush with cash early on. For context, New York's only other forestry program (at Paul Smith's College) reports nearly identical earnings at $44,342, suggesting SUNY-ESF likely tracks close to this figure given its specialized focus and in-state location. The estimated $22,607 debt load is manageable but not trivial on a forestry salary, translating to roughly half a year's pre-tax income.

The real question is what your child wants from a forestry career. These are often passion-driven fields with outdoor work, conservation impact, and stable if unspectacular earnings trajectories. SUNY-ESF's reputation as a specialized environmental institution may open doors that raw salary data doesn't capture—connections with state and federal agencies, research opportunities, or pathways to graduate work. The 83% admission rate suggests access won't be the barrier; the larger consideration is whether the lifestyle and mission of forestry work justifies the investment when purely financial returns remain modest. If your child is drawn to resource management or environmental stewardship rather than maximizing income, the debt burden here won't be crushing. If they're uncertain about the field, there are less specialized paths with more career flexibility.