California · Forestry

Best Forestry institutions in California, ranked by earnings

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

Institutions
13
offering CIP 03.05
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
366
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$52,810
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Foresters
$101,700
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree
$55,0923986%$17,000
2California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt
Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,8105149%$22,173

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Foresters (SOC 19-1032).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~1,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$70,660
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingMonitoringWriting

What Foresters earn in California

Jobs in California
830
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$101,700
median $98,870
Best-paying metro
$118,010
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Related careers

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$62,400 avg · 10,680 jobs
Forest and Conservation Technicians
$63,140 avg · 6,440 jobs
Conservation Scientists
$87,840 avg · 1,940 jobs
Forest and Conservation Workers
$43,630 avg · 1,840 jobs
Foresters
$101,700 avg · 830 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Forestry programs in California.

Which Forestry program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $55,092. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Foresters earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Foresters in California is $101,700 (median $98,870), across about 830 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Forestry program?+

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Foresters?+

The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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