by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Ecology covers Ecology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Relationships And Interactions Of Small-Scale Biological Systems, Such As Organisms, To Each Other, To Complex And Whole Systems, And To The Physical And Other Non-Biological Aspects Of Their Environments. Includes Instruction In Biogeochemistry; Landscape And/or Marine/aquatic Dynamics; Decomposition; Global And Regional Elemental Budgets; Biotic And Abiotic Regulation Of Nutrient Cycles; Ecophysiology; Ecosystem Resilience, Disturbance, And Succession; Community And Habitat Dynamics; Organismal Interactions (Co-Evolution, Competition, Predation); Paleoecology; And Evolutionary Ecology. Examples: [Ecosystem Science]. Read on to learn the essential details every ecology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ecology programs.
Across the country, ecology is a popular field of study, with 1,201 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ecology Schools ranking analyzes these 67 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ecology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ecology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Ecology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ecology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a ecology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a ecology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ecology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 824 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 194 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 183 |
People currently working in careers related to ecology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.4% |
| Master’s degree | 17.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 1.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ecology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in ecology prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to ecology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ecology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of ecology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ecology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ecology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $97,541 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
With 67 different ecology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ecology school rankings to help you.
Those considering ecology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,053 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,375 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 151 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
