Best colleges for Natural Resources and Conservation
Any instructional program in natural resources and conservation not listed above.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 121 Natural Resources and Conservation students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.9999, a specialization of Natural Resources and Conservation (CIP 03.99), and leads most directly to the Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1043).
About Natural Resources and Conservation programs
Any instructional program in natural resources and conservation not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Natural Resources and Conservation program focuses on the study and management of natural resources, preparing students for various careers in environmental conservation and sustainability. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about protecting the environment and interested in hands-on work related to natural resource management.
Students in this program develop essential skills in writing, critical thinking, and active learning. Coursework may cover topics such as forest resource policy, biology, and geography, equipping graduates with a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical applications.
Credentials awarded
What Natural Resources and Conservation graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree61 graduates / yr · 6 institutions50%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate40 graduates / yr · 2 institutions33%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions6.6%
- Master's degree7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions5.8%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.1%
Graduates over time
Natural Resources and Conservation completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 269 |
| 2013 | 278 |
| 2014 | 333 |
| 2015 | 283 |
| 2016 | 231 |
| 2017 | 175 |
| 2018 | 182 |
| 2019 | 149 |
| 2020 | 129 |
| 2021 | 147 |
| 2022 | 138 |
| 2023 | 150 |
| 2024 | 132 |
| 2025 | 121 |
Top 12 institutions for Natural Resources and Conservation, 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 starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster's | 54 | 86% | — | $29,139 |
| 2 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 32 | 83% | — | — |
| 3 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 48% | — | — |
| 4 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicBachelor's | 7 | 71% | — | $39,705 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WIPublicBachelor's | 7 | 56% | — | — |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 4 | 34% | — | $29,139 |
| 7 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicBachelor's | 2 | 57% | — | — |
| 8 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Albuquerque, NMPublicAssociate's | 2 | 14% | — | — |
| 9 | Murray State College Tishomingo, OKPublicAssociate's | 2 | 27% | — | — |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 26% | — | — |
| 11 | Snow College Ephraim, UTPublicAssociate's | 1 | 46% | — | — |
| 12 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 65% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Natural Resources and Conservation field (CIP 03.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Natural Resources and Conservation graduates come from. Each state links to all Natural Resources and Conservation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 59 | Pennsylvania State University54 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 32 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst32 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 8 | The University of Montana8 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 7 | Kansas State University7 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville7 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 | University of Idaho2 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 2 | Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute2 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 2 | Murray State College2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Snow College1 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 1 | Western Washington University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1043, Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Natural Resources and Conservation program can pursue careers such as Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4% and approximately 100 annual openings. The median wage for related positions is $100,830, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.9999
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1043 | $101,420 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Natural Resources and Conservation 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
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics, such as forest resource policy, forest pathology, and mapping.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory or field work.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in writing, critical thinking, active listening, and more.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can pursue careers such as Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a 4% growth rate and 100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Natural Resources and Conservation?+
Natural Resources and Conservation is CIP 03.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Natural Resources and Conservation (CIP 03.99). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in natural resources and conservation not listed above.
How many institutions offer Natural Resources and Conservation programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Natural Resources and Conservation graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 121 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Natural Resources and Conservation graduates.
How much do Natural Resources and Conservation graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Natural Resources and Conservation most directly leads to, pays a median of $101,420 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Natural Resources and Conservation field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,139, 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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Natural Resources and Conservation graduates, so its figures match the Natural Resources and Conservation program page.
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