by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Environmental/Natural Resource Economics covers Environmental/natural Resource Economics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Economic Concepts And Methods To The Analysis Of Issues Such As Air And Water Pollution, Land Use Planning, Waste Disposal, Invasive Species And Pest Control, Conservation Policies, And Related Environmental Problems. Includes Instruction In Cost-Benefit Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, Evaluation And Assessment Of Alternative Resource Management Strategies, Policy Evaluation And Monitoring, And Descriptive And Analytic Tools For Studying How Environmental Developments Affect The Economic System. Examples: [Environmental Economics And Policy]. Read on to learn the key facts every environmental/natural resource economics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental/natural resource economics programs.
Across the country, environmental/natural resource economics draws strong interest, with 184 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental/Natural Resource Economics Schools ranking analyzes these 19 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental/natural resource economics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental/natural resource economics programs later in this article.
Programs in Environmental/Natural Resource Economics build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental/natural resource economics graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a environmental/natural resource economics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a environmental/natural resource economics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental/natural resource economics 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 | 116 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 63 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental/natural resource economics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental/natural resource economics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in environmental/natural resource economics opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to environmental/natural resource economics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resource economics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental/natural resource economics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,496 |
| 4 years | $52,434 |
| 5 years | $59,221 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for environmental/natural resource economics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental/natural resource economics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 19 different environmental/natural resource economics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental/natural resource economics school rankings to help you.
Those considering environmental/natural resource economics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
