by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Forest Management/Forest Resources Management covers Forest Management/forest Resources Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Principles Of Forestry And Natural Resources Management To The Administration Of Forest Lands And Related Resources. Includes Instruction In Silviculture, Forest Mensuration, Forest Protection, Inventorying, Biometrics, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Forest Policy And Economics, Forest Land Use Planning, Fire Protection And Management, And Related Administrative Skills. Examples: [Silviculture], [Sylviculture]. Continue reading for the important information every forest management/forest resources management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering forest management/forest resources management programs.
Nationwide, forest management/forest resources management is a popular field of study, with 252 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Forest Management/Forest Resources Management Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for forest management/forest resources management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of forest management/forest resources management programs later in this article.
Coursework for Forest Management/Forest Resources Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations forest management/forest resources management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a forest management/forest resources management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a forest management/forest resources management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several forest management/forest resources management 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 140 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 79 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to forest management/forest resources management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in forest management/forest resources management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in forest management/forest resources management prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to forest management/forest resources management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to forest management/forest resources management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of forest management/forest resources management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,042 |
| 4 years | $52,066 |
| 5 years | $60,484 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for forest management/forest resources management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers forest management/forest resources management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
With 15 different forest management/forest resources management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased forest management/forest resources management school rankings to help you.
Those considering forest management/forest resources management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Forestry, General | 1,181 |
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 393 |
| Forest Technology/Technician | 327 |
| Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician | 95 |
| Urban Forestry | 89 |
| Forestry, Other | 75 |
| Forest Resources Production and Management | 48 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
