Best institutions to study Urban Forestry
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles of forestry and related sciences to the development, care, and maintenance of individual trees and forested areas within or close to areas of dense human habitation.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 92 Urban Forestry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0508, a specialization of Forestry (CIP 03.05), and leads most directly to the Foresters occupation (BLS SOC 19-1032).
About Urban Forestry programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply the principles of forestry and related sciences to the development, care, and maintenance of individual trees and forested areas within or close to areas of dense human habitation. Includes instruction in urban environments; effects of pollution on tree species; environmental design and landscaping; urban pest infestation; urban forest management; and applicable policies and regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Urban Forestry program, a specialization within Forestry, prepares individuals to apply forestry principles in urban settings. This program focuses on the development, care, and maintenance of trees and forested areas in densely populated regions, addressing challenges such as pollution and urban pest management. It is ideal for those interested in enhancing urban green spaces and promoting environmental sustainability.
Students in the Urban Forestry program gain knowledge in environmental design, urban forest management, and applicable policies and regulations. Core skills include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication, equipping graduates to tackle the unique challenges of urban forestry.
Credentials awarded
What Urban Forestry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year27 graduates / yr · 4 institutions29%
- Bachelor's degree23 graduates / yr · 3 institutions25%
- Associate's degree16 graduates / yr · 6 institutions17%
- Master's degree11 graduates / yr · 1 institution12%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate10 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship4 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Urban Forestry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 55 |
| 2013 | 73 |
| 2014 | 60 |
| 2015 | 71 |
| 2016 | 59 |
| 2017 | 65 |
| 2018 | 71 |
| 2019 | 51 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 70 |
| 2022 | 73 |
| 2023 | 111 |
| 2024 | 88 |
| 2025 | 92 |
Top 12 institutions for Urban 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 | Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 24 | 27% | — | — |
| 2 | Mid - State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 19 | 52% | — | — |
| 3 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicPost-degree cert. | 10 | 70% | — | — |
| 4 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 25% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 6 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 71% | — | $32,573 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 83% | — | — |
| 9 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 51% | $22,773 | $44,342 |
| 10 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAssociate's | 3 | 51% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicAssociate's | 2 | 83% | — | — |
| 12 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAssociate's | 2 | 42% | — | — |
* 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 10 states
Where Urban Forestry graduates come from. Each state links to all Forestry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 3 | 30 | Mid - State Technical College19 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 24 | Southern University and A & M College24 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 10 | Oregon State University10 / yr |
| California | 1 | 8 | University of California - Davis8 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 6 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln6 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 4 | University of Kentucky4 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst3 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 3 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science3 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | University of Connecticut2 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 2 | Hennepin Technical College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1032, Foresters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Urban Forestry program can pursue careers as foresters or forestry and conservation science teachers. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with an annual opening of approximately 1,100 positions and a median wage of $70,660 for those with a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0508
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 |
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 Urban 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 - 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 is Urban Forestry?+
Urban Forestry focuses on the management of trees and forested areas in urban environments.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn awards ranging from certificates to Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and environmental management.
What career opportunities are available?+
Career options include foresters and educators in forestry and conservation, with a median wage of $70,660.
What is the CIP code for Urban Forestry?+
Urban Forestry is CIP 03.0508 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 the principles of forestry and related sciences to the development, care, and maintenance of individual trees and forested areas within or close to areas of dense human habitation. Includes instruction in urban environments; effects of pollution on tree species; environmental design and landscaping; urban pest infestation; urban forest management; and applicable policies and regulations.
How many institutions offer Urban Forestry programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Urban Forestry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 92 credentials in the year. That is 3.7% of all Forestry graduates.
How much do Urban Forestry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Foresters occupation, which Urban 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 $44,342 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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