by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services covers Environmental/natural Resources Law Enforcement And Protective Services. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Enforce Natural Resource And Environmental Protection Regulations And Laws; And To Perform Emergency Duties To Protect Human Life, Property And Natural Resources, Including Fire Prevention And Control Measures, And Emergency And Rescue Procedures. Includes Instruction In Natural And Physical Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Outdoor Field Skills, Firearms And Outdoor Equipment And Vehicle Operation, Evidence Collection And Environmental Sampling And Monitoring, Natural Resource Legislation, Environmental Compliance Techniques, Patrol Procedures, Investigation And Report Writing, Interpersonal Skills And Crisis Intervention, Community Liaison, Public Safety, Public Education, And Public Relations. Note: This Program Was Re-Instated After Being Deleted From Cip 2000; Previously, It Was Coded As 03.0203. Examples: [Conservation Enforcement]. Continue reading for the important information every environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services programs.
In the U.S., environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services draws strong interest, with 224 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services Schools ranking analyzes these 21 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services programs later in this article.
Studies in Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 29 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 78 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 67 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 47 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 21.2% |
| Some college courses | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.5% |
| Master’s degree | 3.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Fish and Game Wardens | 496,968 | 0.7% |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | 492,341 | 8.2% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 449,456 | 2.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services 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 resources law enforcement and protective services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | $85,399 |
| Compliance Officers | $71,138 |
| Customs Brokers | $67,529 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
With 21 different environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services school rankings to help you.
Those considering environmental/natural resources law enforcement and protective services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.