by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 37 U.S. colleges awarded 431 degrees and certificates in Conservation Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 60% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Conservation Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing, rising to $66,409 after four years.
A degree in Conservation Biology covers Conservation Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of The Biological Sciences To The Specific Problems Of Biodiversity, Species Preservation, Ecological Sustainability, And Habitat Fragmentation In The Face Of Advancing Human Social, Economic, And Industrial Pressures. Includes Instruction In Ecology, Environmental Science, Biological Systems, Extinction Theory, Human-Animal And Human-Plant Interaction, Ecosystem Science And Management, Wetland Conservation, Field Biology, Forest And Wildlife Biology, And Natural History.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, conservation biology draws strong interest, with 431 degrees awarded annually. 37 colleges award conservation biology degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 85.
By level, the 431 awards include 257 bachelor’s degrees, 161 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of conservation biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (301 of 431). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (328) and Hispanic or Latino (26), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Conservation Biology Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks conservation biology schools within 8 states. In all, 37 colleges offer conservation biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Conservation Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common conservation biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 257 of the 431 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to conservation biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a conservation biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 257 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 161 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to conservation biology, at 27.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 23.4% |
| Master’s degree | 18.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Conservation Biology, with an average median salary of $71,713; the strongest outlook belongs to Conservation Scientists, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, College Professor, Assistant Professor and University Faculty Member.
The occupation related to conservation biology with the most projected jobs is Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 287,657.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 287,657 | 10.6% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
Conservation Biology graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing their program, $66,409 after four years and $64,232 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $66,409 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to conservation biology is Molecular and Cellular Biologists, with a median salary of $100,077.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,485 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
Conservation Biology has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 9,266 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (2,663) and Ecology (1,199). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,663 |
| Ecology | 1,199 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 935 |
| Environmental Biology | 490 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 346 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 248 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 207 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 129 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 24 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
