Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $51,421 at Auburn University come in 20% above the national median of $42,702 for Forestry programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Forestry programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Forestry's typical career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $51,421 far exceeding the $18,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #6 of 29 nationally, this is a top-5% Forestry program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $60,170 are relatively flat compared to the $51,421 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.