Best institutions to study Forest Management/Forest Resources Management
A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of forestry and natural resources management to the administration of forest lands and related resources.
17 U.S. institutions graduated 287 Forest Management/Forest Resources Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0506, a specialization of Forestry (CIP 03.05), and leads most directly to the Foresters occupation (BLS SOC 19-1032).
About Forest Management/Forest Resources Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of forestry and natural resources management to the administration of forest lands and related resources. Includes instruction in silviculture, forest mensuration, forest protection, inventorying, biometrics, geographic information systems, remote sensing, photogrammetry, forest policy and economics, forest land use planning, fire protection and management, and related administrative skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forest Management/Forest Resources Management program prepares students to apply principles of forestry and natural resources management in the administration of forest lands and related resources. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about environmental conservation and sustainable land use, equipping them with the necessary skills to manage and protect forest ecosystems.
Learn more about Forest Management/Forest Resources Management →
Students in this program will gain knowledge in areas such as silviculture, forest protection, inventorying, and geographic information systems. Core skills include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, all essential for successful forest management.
Credentials awarded
What Forest Management/Forest Resources Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree170 graduates / yr · 8 institutions59%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year46 graduates / yr · 1 institution16%
- Associate's degree30 graduates / yr · 4 institutions11%
- Master's degree21 graduates / yr · 6 institutions7.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate16 graduates / yr · 3 institutions5.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.4%
Graduates over time
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 268 |
| 2013 | 308 |
| 2014 | 315 |
| 2015 | 272 |
| 2016 | 283 |
| 2017 | 277 |
| 2018 | 292 |
| 2019 | 332 |
| 2020 | 259 |
| 2021 | 292 |
| 2022 | 298 |
| 2023 | 299 |
| 2024 | 252 |
| 2025 | 287 |
Top 17 institutions for Forest Management/Forest Resources Management, 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 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 50 | 61% | — | $43,144 |
| 2 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 38 | 48% | — | $31,138 |
| 3 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GAPublicBachelor's | 32 | 36% | — | $40,065 |
| 4 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor's | 30 | 87% | — | $53,850 |
| 5 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicBachelor's | 25 | 65% | — | $43,228 |
| 6 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicPost-degree cert.Bachelor's | 21 | 57% | — | $47,399 |
| 7 | Hocking College Nelsonville, OHPublicAssociate's | 20 | 37% | — | — |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor's | 16 | 85% | — | $61,142 |
| 9 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NVPublicBachelor's | 12 | 61% | — | — |
| 10 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 11 | 51% | $22,773 | $44,342 |
| 11 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 70% | — | — |
| 12 | Minnesota North College Hibbing, MNPublicAssociate's | 7 | 42% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, ARPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 6 | 49% | — | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 86% | — | $41,189 |
| 15 | Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, MTPublicAssociate's | 2 | 29% | — | — |
| 16 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicMaster's | 2 | 66% | — | — |
| 17 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay, ORPublicAssociate's | 1 | 40% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Forestry field (CIP 03.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 14 states
Where Forest Management/Forest Resources Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Forestry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 50 | Northern Arizona University50 / yr |
| Montana | 2 | 40 | The University of Montana38 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 32 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College32 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 30 | Clemson University30 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 25 | West Virginia University25 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 21 | University of Idaho21 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 20 | Hocking College20 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 16 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh16 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 13 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science11 / yr |
| Oregon | 2 | 12 | Oregon State University11 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 12 | University of Nevada - Reno12 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 7 | Minnesota North College7 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 6 | University of Arkansas at Monticello6 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 3 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1032, Foresters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forest Management program can pursue careers as foresters, conservation scientists, or educators in forestry and conservation. With an annual growth outlook of 1.2% and approximately 1,100 job openings each year, the median wage for these positions is around $70,660, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0506
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Forestersprimary SOC 19-1032 | $76,400 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~1,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Conservation Scientists SOC 19-1031 | $73,010 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1043 | $101,420 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~100 | Doctoral or professional 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 Forest Management/Forest Resources Management 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
- Monitor contract compliance and results of forestry activities to assure adherence to government regulations.
- Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands.
- Plan and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality.
- Establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources.
- Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
- Determine methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage.
Tools and technology used
Other Forestry specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Forestry (CIP 03.05).
- ForestryCIP 03.05011,235 graduates / yr43 institutions
- Forest Sciences and BiologyCIP 03.0502367 graduates / yr20 institutions
- Forest Technology/CIP 03.0511
Technician 283 graduates / yr35 institutions - Urban ForestryCIP 03.050892 graduates / yr12 institutions
- ForestryCIP 03.0599partial data89 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Wood Science and Wood Products/CIP 03.0509
Pulp and Paper Technology/ Technician partial data80 graduates / yr6 institutions - Forest Resources Production and ManagementCIP 03.0510partial data51 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a forester, conservation scientist, or a forestry and conservation science teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is stable with a growth rate of 1.2% and about 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Forest Management/Forest Resources Management?+
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management is CIP 03.0506 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Forestry (CIP 03.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of forestry and natural resources management to the administration of forest lands and related resources. Includes instruction in silviculture, forest mensuration, forest protection, inventorying, biometrics, geographic information systems, remote sensing, photogrammetry, forest policy and economics, forest land use planning, fire protection and management, and related administrative skills.
How many institutions offer Forest Management/Forest Resources Management programs?+
17 U.S. institutions reported Forest Management/Forest Resources Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 14 states, awarding 287 credentials in the year. That is 11.6% of all Forestry graduates.
How much do Forest Management/Forest Resources Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Foresters occupation, which Forest Management/Forest Resources Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,400 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Forestry field report median earnings of $43,228 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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