Best institutions to study Forestry
A program that generally prepares individuals to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes.
43 U.S. institutions graduated 1,235 Forestry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0501, a specialization of Forestry (CIP 03.05), and leads most directly to the Foresters occupation (BLS SOC 19-1032).
About Forestry programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes. Includes instruction in forest-related sciences, mapping, statistics, harvesting and production technology, natural resources management and economics, wildlife sciences, administration, and public relations.
See also: 14.3401 - Forest Engineering.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forestry program, also known as Forestry, General, is designed for individuals interested in managing and developing forest areas for various purposes, including economic, recreational, and ecological. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about natural resources and conservation and seek to make a positive impact on forest ecosystems.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in forest-related sciences, mapping, statistics, and natural resource management. Coursework will also cover wildlife sciences, administration, and public relations, equipping graduates with the skills necessary for effective forest management.
Credentials awarded
What Forestry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree696 graduates / yr · 23 institutions56%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year228 graduates / yr · 7 institutions19%
- Master's degree122 graduates / yr · 13 institutions9.9%
- Associate's degree81 graduates / yr · 14 institutions6.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years44 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.6%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship36 graduates / yr · 6 institutions2.9%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate26 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Forestry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 996 |
| 2013 | 849 |
| 2014 | 910 |
| 2015 | 870 |
| 2016 | 829 |
| 2017 | 828 |
| 2018 | 845 |
| 2019 | 875 |
| 2020 | 946 |
| 2021 | 862 |
| 2022 | 899 |
| 2023 | 935 |
| 2024 | 1,178 |
| 2025 | 1,235 |
Top 43 institutions for Forestry, 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 | Reedley College Reedley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 196 | 42% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoralAward of less than 12 weeks | 132 | 91% | — | $26,838 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 78 | 86% | — | $45,817 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CAPublicBachelor's | 69 | 49% | — | $52,810 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicBachelor's | 67 | 51% | — | $41,177 |
| 6 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 57 | 53% | — | $39,953 |
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 51 | 86% | — | $55,092 |
| 8 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor's | 43 | 67% | — | $37,539 |
| 9 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 42 | 81% | — | $39,178 |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicBachelor's | 39 | 62% | — | $35,398 |
| 11 | College of the Redwoods Eureka, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 38 | 34% | — | — |
| 12 | Citrus College Glendora, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 33 | 41% | — | — |
| 13 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 31 | 74% | — | $31,441 |
| 14 | Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 64% | — | $44,120 |
| 15 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 28 | 66% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 27 | 79% | — | — |
| 17 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 68% | — | $45,571 |
| 18 | Columbia College Sonora, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 27% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, ARPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 22 | 49% | — | — |
| 20 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicBachelor's | 22 | 57% | — | $47,399 |
| 21 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 21 | 55% | — | $43,901 |
| 22 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 21 | 85% | — | $61,142 |
| 23 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 19 | 90% | — | $47,214 |
| 24 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 17 | 82% | — | $51,421 |
| 25 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 17 | 83% | — | $43,029 |
| 26 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | 97% | $16,260 | — |
| 27 | Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 45% | — | — |
| 28 | New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, NMPublicBachelor's | 9 | 26% | — | — |
| 29 | Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CAPublicAssociate's | 8 | 21% | — | — |
| 30 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 60% | — | — |
| 31 | Grays Harbor College Aberdeen, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 39% | — | — |
| 32 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicMaster's | 6 | 61% | — | $43,144 |
| 33 | Feather River Community College District Quincy, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 35% | — | — |
| 34 | Shasta College Redding, CAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 23% | — | — |
| 35 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 3 | 93% | — | — |
| 36 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NHPublicBachelor's | 3 | 76% | — | — |
| 37 | Potomac State College of West Virginia University Keyser, WVPublicAssociate's | 3 | 31% | — | — |
| 38 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicMaster's | 3 | 65% | — | $43,228 |
| 39 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, ARPublicAssociate's | 2 | 54% | — | — |
| 40 | Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton, OKPublicAssociate's | 2 | 27% | — | — |
| 41 | Butte College Oroville, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 45% | — | — |
| 42 | Holmes Community College Goodman, MSPublicAssociate's | 1 | 39% | — | — |
| 43 | 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 27 states
Where Forestry graduates come from. Each state links to all Forestry programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1032, Foresters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forestry program can pursue careers as foresters, conservation scientists, and forest technicians, among others. The job outlook shows little or no change, with an annual opening of about 1,100 positions and a median wage of $70,660, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0501
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 |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Forest and Conservation Technicians SOC 19-4071 | $54,560 | -3.2% Decline | ~3,900 | Associate's degree |
Conservation Scientists SOC 19-1031 | $73,010 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Forest and Conservation Workers SOC 45-4011 | $43,680 | -4.7% Decline | ~2,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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 Forestry 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).
- Forest Sciences and BiologyCIP 03.0502367 graduates / yr20 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 degree, an Associate's degree, a Master's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and monitoring, among others.
What are the primary career options after graduation?+
Primary career options include becoming a forester or a first-line supervisor of forestry workers.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 43 colleges offering the Forestry program across the United States.
What is the CIP code for Forestry?+
Forestry is CIP 03.0501 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 generally prepares individuals to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes. Includes instruction in forest-related sciences, mapping, statistics, harvesting and production technology, natural resources management and economics, wildlife sciences, administration, and public relations.
How many institutions offer Forestry programs?+
43 U.S. institutions reported Forestry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 27 states, awarding 1,235 credentials in the year. That is 49.7% of all Forestry graduates.
How much do Forestry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Foresters occupation, which Forestry 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 $43,901 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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