Best institutions to study Forestry
Any program in forestry not listed above.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 89 Forestry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0599, a specialization of Forestry (CIP 03.05), and leads most directly to the Foresters occupation (BLS SOC 19-1032).
About Forestry programs
Any program in forestry not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It is designed for students interested in environmental science, natural resource management, and conservation practices. This program prepares graduates to address challenges related to forestry and land use while promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Students in the Forestry program develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes topics in biology, law and government, and administration, equipping students with the knowledge needed for successful forest management and conservation.
Credentials awarded
What Forestry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree47 graduates / yr · 4 institutions53%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate17 graduates / yr · 3 institutions19%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions10%
- Master's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.7%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year4 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Forestry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 146 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2014 | 71 |
| 2015 | 70 |
| 2016 | 91 |
| 2017 | 89 |
| 2018 | 107 |
| 2019 | 129 |
| 2020 | 119 |
| 2021 | 129 |
| 2022 | 113 |
| 2023 | 102 |
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2025 | 89 |
Top 9 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 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 21 | 85% | — | $43,842 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 14 | 86% | — | $45,817 |
| 3 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 13 | 70% | — | — |
| 4 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 10 | 82% | — | $51,421 |
| 5 | Hawaii Community College Hilo, HIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 10 | 33% | — | — |
| 6 | Alabama A & M University Normal, ALPublicBachelor's | 7 | 24% | — | — |
| 7 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald Hohenwald, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 65% | — | — |
| 8 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 81% | — | $39,178 |
| 9 | Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay, ORPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 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 7 states
Where Forestry graduates come from. Each state links to all Forestry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 21 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities21 / yr |
| Alabama | 2 | 17 | Auburn University10 / yr |
| Oregon | 2 | 14 | Oregon State University13 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 14 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University14 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 10 | Hawaii Community College10 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 7 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 6 | Michigan State University6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1032, Foresters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forestry program can pursue careers as foresters, forest and conservation technicians, and educators in forestry and conservation science. The job outlook indicates little or no change in the field, with approximately 1,100 annual openings and a median wage of $70,660 for those holding a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0599
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 |
Forest and Conservation Technicians SOC 19-4071 | $54,560 | -3.2% Decline | ~3,900 | Associate'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).
- ForestryCIP 03.05011,235 graduates / yr43 institutions
- 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
- 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 the Forestry program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
How many colleges offer the Forestry program in the U.S.?+
There are 9 colleges offering the Forestry program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, writing, and monitoring.
What is the job outlook for forestry graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Forestry?+
Forestry is CIP 03.0599 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Forestry (CIP 03.05). NCES defines it as: Any program in forestry not listed above.
How many institutions offer Forestry programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Forestry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 89 credentials in the year. That is 3.6% 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 $45,817 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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