Best institutions to study Ecology
Any instructional program in ecology, evolution, and systematics not listed above.
17 U.S. institutions graduated 344 Ecology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1399, a specialization of Ecology (CIP 26.13), and leads most directly to the Conservation Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1031).
About Ecology programs
Any instructional program in ecology, evolution, and systematics not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Ecology program focuses on the study of ecosystems, evolution, and the relationships between organisms and their environments. It is designed for students interested in understanding ecological principles and applying them to real-world challenges. This program is ideal for those passionate about conservation and environmental sustainability.
Students in the Ecology program will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, active listening, and critical thinking, along with a strong foundation in biology, geography, and chemistry. Coursework often includes principles of conservation, soil management, and ecological monitoring.
Credentials awarded
What Ecology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree240 graduates / yr · 10 institutions70%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship54 graduates / yr · 8 institutions16%
- Master's degree44 graduates / yr · 6 institutions13%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
Graduates over time
Ecology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 179 |
| 2013 | 197 |
| 2014 | 196 |
| 2015 | 209 |
| 2016 | 193 |
| 2017 | 260 |
| 2018 | 266 |
| 2019 | 266 |
| 2020 | 288 |
| 2021 | 274 |
| 2022 | 277 |
| 2023 | 328 |
| 2024 | 309 |
| 2025 | 344 |
Top 17 institutions for Ecology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 119 | 81% | $13,712 | $24,143 |
| 2 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 55 | 83% | — | $29,258 |
| 3 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 41 | 86% | — | $31,088 |
| 4 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 40 | 85% | — | $27,100 |
| 5 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 75% | — | $25,810 |
| 6 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NVPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 17 | 61% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LAPublicDoctoral | 9 | 53% | — | — |
| 8 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 87% | — | — |
| 9 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 69% | $34,539 | — |
| 10 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 81% | — | $29,318 |
| 11 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 5 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 12 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 13 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicDoctoral | 3 | 77% | — | — |
| 14 | Pitzer College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 83% | $23,248 | — |
| 15 | Life University Marietta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 38% | $30,667 | — |
| 16 | Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 45% | $20,402 | — |
| 17 | Haverford College Haverford, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 90% | $17,179 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ecology field (CIP 26.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 12 states
Where Ecology graduates come from. Each state links to all Ecology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6 | 133 | University of California - Santa Barbara55 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 119 | Brigham Young University119 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 40 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus40 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 17 | University of Nevada - Reno17 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 9 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette9 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 7 | Hofstra University7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 6 | Michigan State University6 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 5 | Washington University in St Louis5 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 3 | University of South Florida3 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 2 | Life University2 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 2 | Mars Hill University2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Haverford College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1031, Conservation Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Ecology program can pursue careers as Conservation Scientists, with an average annual wage of $67,950. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with approximately 2,500 annual openings and a typical requirement of a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1399
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservation Scientistsprimary SOC 19-1031 | $73,010 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 | $84,620 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~5,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Biological Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1029 | $98,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1053 | $94,980 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Life Scientists, All Other SOC 19-1099 | $93,750 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~400 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Ecology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
- Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
- Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
- Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
Tools and technology used
Other Ecology specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ecology (CIP 26.13).
- EpidemiologyCIP 26.13093,001 graduates / yr102 institutions
- Marine Biology and Biological OceanographyCIP 26.13022,636 graduates / yr84 institutions
- EcologyCIP 26.13011,166 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1310879 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Environmental BiologyCIP 26.1305481 graduates / yr51 institutions
- Conservation BiologyCIP 26.1307405 graduates / yr37 institutions
- Epidemiology and BiostatisticsCIP 26.1311248 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Evolutionary BiologyCIP 26.1303192 graduates / yr14 institutions
- Aquatic Biology/CIP 26.1304
Limnology partial data126 graduates / yr9 institutions - Systematic Biology/CIP 26.1308
Biological Systematics limited data24 graduates / yr2 institutions - Population BiologyCIP 26.1306partial data10 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, writing, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Ecology?+
You can work as a Conservation Scientist, Natural Sciences Manager, or Biological Science Teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for Ecology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 3.4% growth and around 2,500 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Ecology?+
Ecology is CIP 26.1399 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ecology (CIP 26.13). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in ecology, evolution, and systematics not listed above.
How many institutions offer Ecology programs?+
17 U.S. institutions reported Ecology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 344 credentials in the year. That is 3.6% of all Ecology graduates.
How much do Ecology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Conservation Scientists occupation, which Ecology most directly leads to, pays a median of $73,010 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ecology field report median earnings of $29,258 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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