by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Urban Forestry covers Urban Forestry. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Forestry And Related Sciences To The Development, Care, And Maintenance Of Individual Trees And Forested Areas Within Or Close To Areas Of Dense Human Habitation. Includes Instruction In Urban Environments; Effects Of Pollution On Tree Species; Environmental Design And Landscaping; Urban Pest Infestation; Urban Forest Management; And Applicable Policies And Regulations. Examples: [Arboriculture]. Read on to learn the essential details every urban forestry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering urban forestry programs.
In the U.S., urban forestry is a popular field of study, with 89 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Urban Forestry Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for urban forestry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of urban forestry programs later in this article.
Coursework for Urban Forestry develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations urban forestry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a urban forestry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a urban forestry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several urban forestry 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 | 31 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 30 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to urban forestry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 52.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.2% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in urban forestry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in urban forestry opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to urban forestry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to urban forestry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of urban forestry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 urban forestry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers urban forestry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
With 14 different urban forestry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased urban forestry school rankings to help you.
Students interested in urban forestry, 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 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management | 252 |
| Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician | 95 |
| Forestry, Other | 75 |
| Forest Resources Production and Management | 48 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
