Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of Redlands and Santa Clara University are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,338, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Santa Barbara and University of California-Davis award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in California: 445, 430 and 335 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 102 California colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 3,521 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,338 | 445 | 93% | — | $12,988 |
| 2 | University of Redlands Redlands Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,164 | 26 | 67% | $22,706 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,576 | 39 | 88% | $44,094 | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,954 | 335 | 86% | — | $15,200 |
| 5 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,949 | 79 | 70% | $37,121 | $23,125 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,524 | 68 | 86% | — | $18,000 |
| 7 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,364 | 36 | 55% | — | $12,424 |
| 8 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,308 | 61 | 56% | — | $22,100 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,304 | 96 | 87% | — | $12,477 |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,090 | 114 | 76% | — | $13,191 |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 445 | $47,338 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 430 | $33,759 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 335 | $38,954 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 202 | $29,152 |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public | 150 | $29,917 |
| 6 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 125 | $31,944 |
| 7 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 114 | $34,090 |
| 8 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 96 | $36,304 |
| 9 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public | 89 | $30,712 |
| 10 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 79 | $38,949 |
ShowHide the other 92 California colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).
Top skills
What Conservation Scientists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (445 graduates a year), University of California-Santa Barbara (430 graduates a year) and University of California-Davis (335 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 102 California colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,338, College Scorecard. University of Redlands and Santa Clara University follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 445 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $47,338. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Conservation Scientists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in California is $88,030 (median $79,810), across about 2,110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Natural Resources Conservation and Research program?+
The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, science, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Conservation Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.4% growth with around 2,500 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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