Best institutions to study Forest Sciences and Biology
A program that focuses on the application of one or more forest-related sciences to the study of environmental factors affecting forests and the growth and management of forest resources.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 367 Forest Sciences and Biology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0502, a specialization of Forestry (CIP 03.05), and leads most directly to the Foresters occupation (BLS SOC 19-1032).
About Forest Sciences and Biology programs
A program that focuses on the application of one or more forest-related sciences to the study of environmental factors affecting forests and the growth and management of forest resources. Includes instruction in forest biology, forest hydrology, forest mensuration, silviculture, forest soils, water resources, environmental science, forest resources management, and wood science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forest Sciences and Biology program, part of the Forestry field, is designed for students interested in the study and management of forest resources. This program focuses on the application of various forest-related sciences to understand environmental factors affecting forests and their growth.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in forest biology, hydrology, mensuration, silviculture, and environmental science. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, preparing graduates for various roles in forest management and conservation.
Credentials awarded
What Forest Sciences and Biology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree189 graduates / yr · 10 institutions52%
- Master's degree115 graduates / yr · 11 institutions31%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship53 graduates / yr · 11 institutions14%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year4 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Forest Sciences and Biology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 315 |
| 2013 | 382 |
| 2014 | 402 |
| 2015 | 325 |
| 2016 | 399 |
| 2017 | 425 |
| 2018 | 369 |
| 2019 | 390 |
| 2020 | 385 |
| 2021 | 402 |
| 2022 | 385 |
| 2023 | 352 |
| 2024 | 393 |
| 2025 | 367 |
Top 20 institutions for Forest Sciences and Biology, 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, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 61% | — | $43,144 |
| 2 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 50 | 90% | — | $47,214 |
| 3 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 42 | 67% | — | $40,219 |
| 4 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicBachelor's | 29 | 82% | — | $51,421 |
| 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 85% | — | — |
| 6 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 19 | 67% | — | $37,539 |
| 7 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 19 | 75% | — | $39,337 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 19 | 86% | — | $41,189 |
| 9 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 83% | — | $43,029 |
| 10 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 71% | — | $32,573 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 90% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 55% | — | $43,901 |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicMaster's | 8 | 62% | — | $35,398 |
| 14 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 87% | — | $53,850 |
| 15 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 93% | — | — |
| 16 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicBachelor's | 5 | 66% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 51% | — | $41,177 |
| 18 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicDoctoral | 3 | 68% | — | $45,571 |
| 19 | The University of the South Sewanee, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 80% | $21,573 | — |
| 20 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicDoctoral | 2 | 65% | — | $43,228 |
* 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 19 states
Where Forest Sciences and Biology graduates come from. Each state links to all Forestry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 63 | Northern Arizona University63 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 50 | University of Georgia50 / yr |
| Mississippi | 1 | 42 | Mississippi State University42 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 29 | Auburn University29 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 26 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus26 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 19 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins19 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 19 | Iowa State University19 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 19 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus19 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 19 | Purdue University - Main Campus19 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 18 | University of Kentucky18 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 17 | University of Wisconsin - Madison13 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 10 | University of Maine10 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale8 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 8 | Clemson University8 / yr |
| California | 1 | 7 | University of California - Berkeley7 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 5 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry5 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | Michigan Technological University3 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 3 | The University of the South3 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 2 | West Virginia University2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1032, Foresters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forest Sciences and Biology program can pursue careers as foresters, conservation scientists, or educators in forestry and conservation. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an average of 1,100 annual openings and a median wage of $70,660 for those with a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0502
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 Sciences and Biology 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 Management/CIP 03.0506
Forest Resources Management 287 graduates / yr17 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a forester, conservation scientist, or a forestry educator.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Forest Sciences and Biology?+
Forest Sciences and Biology is CIP 03.0502 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 focuses on the application of one or more forest-related sciences to the study of environmental factors affecting forests and the growth and management of forest resources. Includes instruction in forest biology, forest hydrology, forest mensuration, silviculture, forest soils, water resources, environmental science, forest resources management, and wood science.
How many institutions offer Forest Sciences and Biology programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported Forest Sciences and Biology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 19 states, awarding 367 credentials in the year. That is 14.8% of all Forestry graduates.
How much do Forest Sciences and Biology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Foresters occupation, which Forest Sciences and Biology 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 $43,029 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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