Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

$18,952
Net Price
$55,763
Median Earnings (10yr)
63.3%
Acceptance Rate
68.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry posts an average net price of $18,952 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $4,770, achieved by Michigan Technological University at $14,182. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s $55,763, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $78,707.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

8
Alternatives Found
$4,770
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
61%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Rutgers University-Camden $74k 2. Missouri University of Scien $83k 3. Michigan Technological Unive $78k 4. New Jersey Institute of Tech $84k 5. Virginia Military Institute $77k Compared to SUNY College of Environmental Science andForestry: $56k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · Public Better Value
$18,745 -$207 $74,479 66.6% 61%
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · Public Better Value
$16,298 -$2,654 $82,957 64.0% 52%
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · Public Better Value
$14,182 -$4,770 $78,198 68.4% 50%
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · Public Better Value
$16,504 -$2,448 $84,276 72.9% 43%
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · Public Better Value
$17,113 -$1,839 $77,369 78.9% 42%
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,403 -$2,549 $73,997 65.2% 42%
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$18,425 -$527 $82,592 74.0% 41%
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$15,564 -$3,388 $75,790 81.6% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry?
We found 8 schools similar to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry that cost less. The closest match is Rutgers University-Camden with 61% similarity and a net price of $18,745.
What is the ROI of attending SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has an average net price of $18,952. Former students earn a median of $55,763 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry for less money?
Yes - 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Rutgers University-Camden costs $18,745 (saving $207) with median earnings of $74,479.
What is the cheapest alternative to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry?
The most affordable similar school is Michigan Technological University at $14,182, saving $4,770 compared to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. It has a 50% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $78,707 compared to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's $55,763. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.