West Virginia · Forestry

Best colleges for Forestry in West Virginia

Ranked by graduate earnings

West Virginia University, Glenville State University and Potomac State College of West Virginia University award the most Forestry degrees and certificates in West Virginia: 36, 5 and 3 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 West Virginia colleges offer Forestry and award 45 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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
4
offering CIP 03.05
States offered
42
with a program page
Degrees / yr
45
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$43,228
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,284
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
42%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Foresters
$63,560
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
1West Virginia University
Morgantown Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,2283665%—$23,371

Colleges awarding the most Forestry degrees in West Virginia

Top 4 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)
1West Virginia University
Morgantown Public
36$43,228
2Glenville State University
Glenville Public
5Not reported
3Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser Public
3Not reported
4Davis & Elkins College
Elkins Private not-for-profit
1Not reported

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 West Virginia

Jobs in West Virginia
100
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$63,560
median $62,550
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Conservation Scientists
$75,350 avg · 160 jobs
Forest and Conservation Technicians
$57,630 avg · 100 jobs
Foresters
$63,560 avg · 100 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
$56,580 avg · 70 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$93,250 avg · 40 jobs
Forest and Conservation Workers
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Forestry programs in West Virginia.

Which West Virginia colleges award the most Forestry degrees?+

West Virginia University (36 graduates a year), Glenville State University (5 graduates a year) and Potomac State College of West Virginia University (3 graduates a year) award the most Forestry degrees and certificates in West Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 West Virginia colleges offer Forestry.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, West Virginia University tops the list at $43,228. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Foresters earn in West Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Foresters in West Virginia is $63,560 (median $62,550), across about 100 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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