Virginia · Forestry

Best colleges for Forestry in Virginia

Ranked by graduate earnings

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the only Virginia college that awards Forestry degrees and certificates: 120 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

Institutions
1
offering CIP 03.05
States offered
42
with a program page
Degrees / yr
120
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$45,817
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
86%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Foresters
$73,870
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,81712086%—$20,919

Colleges awarding the most Forestry degrees in Virginia

By graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public
120$45,817

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Foresters (SOC 19-1032).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~1,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$70,660
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingMonitoringWriting

What Foresters earn in Virginia

Jobs in Virginia
340
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$73,870
median $71,990
Best-paying metro
$70,970
Richmond, VA

Related careers

First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$60,900 avg · 670 jobs
Conservation Scientists
$92,610 avg · 480 jobs
Forest and Conservation Technicians
$53,270 avg · 380 jobs
Foresters
$73,870 avg · 340 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$129,800 avg · 60 jobs
Forest and Conservation Workers
$52,750

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Forestry programs in Virginia.

Which Virginia colleges award the most Forestry degrees?+

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the only Virginia college that awards Forestry degrees and certificates: 120 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions).

Which Forestry program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tops the list at $45,817. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Foresters earn in Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Foresters in Virginia is $73,870 (median $71,990), across about 340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Forestry program?+

The Forestry program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges, promote biodiversity, and manage forest…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Foresters?+

The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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