Best institutions to study Range Science and Management
A program that focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, arid regions, grasslands, and other areas of low productivity, as well as the principles of managing such resources for maximum benefit and environmental balance.
19 U.S. institutions graduated 137 Range Science and Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1106, a specialization of Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11), and leads most directly to the Conservation Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1031).
About Range Science and Management programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, arid regions, grasslands, and other areas of low productivity, as well as the principles of managing such resources for maximum benefit and environmental balance. Includes instruction in livestock management, wildlife biology, plant sciences, ecology, soil science, and hydrology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Range Science and Management program, part of the Plant Sciences field, focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, grasslands, and arid regions. This program is designed for students interested in managing these ecosystems for optimal benefits while maintaining environmental balance. It is ideal for those passionate about conservation, agriculture, and sustainable land use practices.
Students in this program gain knowledge in various disciplines, including livestock management, wildlife biology, ecology, soil science, and hydrology. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, equipping graduates to tackle complex environmental challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Range Science and Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree66 graduates / yr · 8 institutions48%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year29 graduates / yr · 1 institution21%
- Associate's degree23 graduates / yr · 7 institutions17%
- Master's degree12 graduates / yr · 6 institutions8.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
Graduates over time
Range Science and Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 175 |
| 2013 | 216 |
| 2014 | 215 |
| 2015 | 220 |
| 2016 | 204 |
| 2017 | 213 |
| 2018 | 205 |
| 2019 | 204 |
| 2020 | 205 |
| 2021 | 189 |
| 2022 | 208 |
| 2023 | 192 |
| 2024 | 153 |
| 2025 | 137 |
Top 19 institutions for Range Science and Management, 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 | Treasure Valley Community College Ontario, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 59% | — | $36,062 |
| 3 | Chadron State College Chadron, NEPublicBachelor's | 12 | 50% | — | $36,558 |
| 4 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicBachelor's | 11 | 57% | — | $44,559 |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 70% | — | $38,397 |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CAPublicBachelor's | 9 | 49% | — | $44,038 |
| 7 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NVPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 61% | — | — |
| 8 | Miles Community College Miles City, MTPublicAssociate's | 7 | 62% | — | — |
| 9 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 7 | 55% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicBachelor's | 5 | 67% | — | $47,716 |
| 11 | Northwest College Powell, WYPublicAssociate's | 5 | 49% | — | — |
| 12 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicMaster's | 3 | 57% | — | $33,311 |
| 13 | Laramie County Community College Cheyenne, WYPublicAssociate's | 3 | 38% | — | — |
| 14 | Northern Wyoming Community College District Sheridan, WYPublicAssociate's | 3 | 42% | — | — |
| 15 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicMaster's | 1 | 93% | — | — |
| 16 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicDoctoral | 1 | 64% | — | $49,048 |
| 17 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OKPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | — |
| 18 | Casper College Casper, WYPublicAssociate's | 1 | 43% | — | — |
| 19 | Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WYPublicAssociate's | 1 | 52% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Plant Sciences field (CIP 01.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Range Science and Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Plant Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 2 | 43 | Treasure Valley Community College33 / yr |
| Wyoming | 6 | 28 | University of Wyoming15 / yr |
| Nebraska | 2 | 17 | Chadron State College12 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 11 | University of Idaho11 / yr |
| California | 2 | 10 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt9 / yr |
| Montana | 2 | 10 | Miles Community College7 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 9 | University of Nevada - Reno9 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 7 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus7 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 1 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus1 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1031, Conservation Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Range Science and Management program can pursue careers as Conservation Scientists, Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.4% and approximately 2,500 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $67,950, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1106
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservation Scientistsprimary SOC 19-1031 | $73,010 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Soil and Plant Scientists SOC 19-1013 | $78,850 | +5.4% Faster than average | ~1,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Farm and Home Management Educators SOC 25-9021 | $60,220 | -2.5% Decline | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Animal Scientists SOC 19-1011 | $68,940 | +5.8% Faster than average | ~200 | 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 Range Science and Management 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
- Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
- Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
- Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
- Advise land users, such as farmers or ranchers, on plans, problems, or alternative conservation solutions.
- Implement soil or water management techniques, such as nutrient management, erosion control, buffers, or filter strips, in accordance with conservation plans.
- Compute design specifications for implementation of conservation practices, using survey or field information, technical guides or engineering manuals.
Tools and technology used
Other Plant Sciences specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11).
- Agronomy and Crop ScienceCIP 01.11021,367 graduates / yr65 institutions
- Horticultural ScienceCIP 01.1103875 graduates / yr49 institutions
- Plant SciencesCIP 01.1101753 graduates / yr43 institutions
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest ManagementCIP 01.1105196 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Plant SciencesCIP 01.1199partial data104 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Agricultural and Horticultural Plant BreedingCIP 01.1104partial data42 graduates / yr6 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Conservation Scientist, Farmer, Rancher, or in other agricultural management roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.4% and about 2,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Range Science and Management?+
Range Science and Management is CIP 01.1106 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of rangelands, arid regions, grasslands, and other areas of low productivity, as well as the principles of managing such resources for maximum benefit and environmental balance. Includes instruction in livestock management, wildlife biology, plant sciences, ecology, soil science, and hydrology.
How many institutions offer Range Science and Management programs?+
19 U.S. institutions reported Range Science and Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 137 credentials in the year. That is 3.9% of all Plant Sciences graduates.
How much do Range Science and Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Conservation Scientists occupation, which Range Science and Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $73,010 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Plant Sciences field report median earnings of $44,038 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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