Best colleges for Forestry in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Reedley College, California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most Forestry degrees and certificates in California: 196, 69 and 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 California colleges offer Forestry and award 456 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,092 | 51 | 86% | — | $17,000 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,810 | 69 | 49% | — | $22,173 |
Colleges awarding the most Forestry degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reedley College Reedley Public | 196 | Not reported |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public | 69 | $52,810 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 51 | $55,092 |
| 4 | College of the Redwoods Eureka Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 5 | Citrus College Glendora Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 7 | Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 9 | Feather River Community College District Quincy Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Butte College Oroville Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 California colleges offering Forestry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College | Sonora | Public | 25 |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | 8 |
| Shasta College | Redding | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Foresters (SOC 19-1032).
Top skills
What Foresters earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Forestry programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Forestry degrees?+
Reedley College (196 graduates a year), California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt (69 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (51 graduates a year) award the most Forestry degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 California colleges offer Forestry.
Which Forestry program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $55,092. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $110,770 (median $107,120), across about 820 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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