by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism involves the study of Environmental/natural Resource Recreation And Tourism. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Develop, And Manage Tourism In A Natural Resource Setting, With An Emphasis On Applying Environmentally Sound, Culturally Sensitive, And Economically Sustainable Principles. Includes Instruction In Environmental Studies; Natural Resource Management And Interpretation; Tourism Planning, Management, And Policies; Public Land Use Management And Policies; Communications; Marketing; And Public Relations. Examples: [Ecotourism], [Resource Recreation And Tourism], [Nature-Based Tourism], [Natural Resources Interpretation], [Hunting And Fishing Guide]. Read on to learn the important information every environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism programs.
Across the country, environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism draws strong interest, with 171 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism programs later in this article.
Coursework for Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism 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 | 91 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 80 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.1% |
| Some college courses | 23.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.8% |
| Master’s degree | 7.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism 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 recreation and tourism graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
With 15 different environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism school rankings to help you.
Students interested in environmental/natural resource recreation and tourism, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
