Forestry at University of Georgia

UGA's forestry program punches above its weight nationally—graduates earn nearly $4,200 more in their first year than the typical forestry grad, placing them in the 79th percentile nationwide. With debt of $22,607 and starting earnings of $47,214, graduates carry less than half a year's salary in loans, a manageable starting point that gets easier as salaries grow 23% by year four. This is Georgia's higher-earning forestry option, though the difference between UGA and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College narrows to about $7,000 annually.

The caveat here matters: these numbers come from a small graduating class (under 30 students), so individual outcomes could vary more than usual. Still, the fundamentals look solid. Forestry isn't a lucrative field compared to other majors, but this program delivers earnings at the higher end of what's realistic for the profession. The combination of UGA's academic reputation (37% admission rate, competitive SAT scores) and Georgia's forestry industry creates decent early-career opportunities.

If your child is committed to forestry specifically, UGA offers a credible path with debt levels that won't dominate their financial life. Just recognize you're choosing a field for passion rather than paycheck—even the best forestry programs rarely crack $50,000 in starting salary.