Forestryat Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates earn $45,817/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $567K; scenarios range from $527K to $573K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech's strong outcomes in forestry stem directly from its location and land-grant mission. You’re not just in a classroom; you’re in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, with the Jefferson National Forest as your backyard lab. This provides immense hands-on experience in sustainable timber harvesting, conservation, and land management, which is highly valued by employers. Graduates are aggressively recruited by major timber companies like Weyerhaeuser and WestRock, as well as federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service, which have a significant presence in the region. The curriculum's emphasis on both traditional fieldwork and modern GIS technology prepares you for a career that's increasingly data-driven. To maximize your advantage here, seek out a summer internship with a federal agency—it’s the most reliable pathway to a permanent government position after graduation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Virginia Tech's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Forestry
How Virginia Tech stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Virginia Tech
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Tech, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Forestry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Forestry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Forestry at Virginia Tech
What does a 46/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Forestry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Forestry programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.