by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 43 U.S. colleges awarded 1,235 degrees and certificates in Forestry, General. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Forestry, General Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,993 one year after completing, rising to $60,556 after four years.
Studying Forestry, General involves the study of Forestry, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Manage And Develop Forest Areas For Economic, Recreational, And Ecological Purposes. Includes Instruction In Forest-Related Sciences, Mapping, Statistics, Harvesting And Production Technology, Natural Resources Management And Economics, Wildlife Sciences, Administration, And Public Relations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, forestry, general draws strong interest, with 1,235 degrees awarded annually. 43 colleges award forestry, general degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 196.
By level, the 1,235 awards include 44 certificates, 81 associate degrees, 696 bachelor’s degrees, 376 master’s degrees and 36 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of forestry, general degrees and certificates in the latest year (366 of 1,235). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (820) and Hispanic or Latino (282), and international students earned 32.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Forestry, General Schools ranking, including 21 for bachelor’s degrees, 9 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks forestry, general schools within 16 states. In all, 43 colleges offer forestry, general programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Forestry, General Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common forestry, general credential is the bachelor’s degree: 696 of the 1,235 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to forestry, general call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a forestry, general degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 44 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 81 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 696 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 376 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 36 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to forestry, general, at 32.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Forestry, General, with an average median salary of $62,588; the strongest outlook belongs to Conservation Scientists, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Natural Resources Specialist, Conservation Specialist, Range Instructor and Extension Professor.
The occupation related to forestry, general with the most projected jobs is Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 497,622.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | 400,323 | 11.1% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | 73,073 | 0.5% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Forestry, General graduates earn a median $43,993 one year after completing their program, $60,556 after four years and $60,484 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,993 |
| 4 years | $60,556 |
| 5 years | $60,484 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to forestry, general is Foresters, with a median salary of $93,406.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $50,097 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $22,542 |
Forestry, General has 7 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 1,260 degrees a year; the largest are Forest Sciences and Biology (370), Forest Management/Forest Resources Management (287) and Forest Technology/Technician (283). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 370 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management | 287 |
| Forest Technology/Technician | 283 |
| Urban Forestry | 95 |
| Forestry, Other | 91 |
| Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician | 83 |
| Forest Resources Production and Management | 51 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
