by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 95 degrees and certificates in Urban Forestry. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Urban Forestry 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.
A major in Urban Forestry covers Urban Forestry. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Forestry And Related Sciences To The Development, Care, And Maintenance Of Individual Trees And Forested Areas Within Or Close To Areas Of Dense Human Habitation. Includes Instruction In Urban Environments; Effects Of Pollution On Tree Species; Environmental Design And Landscaping; Urban Pest Infestation; Urban Forest Management; And Applicable Policies And Regulations. Examples: [Arboriculture].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., urban forestry is a popular field of study, with 95 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award urban forestry degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 24.
By level, the 95 awards include 1 certificates, 19 associate degrees, 23 bachelor’s degrees, 48 master’s degrees and 4 doctorates.
Women earned 44% of urban forestry degrees and certificates in the latest year (42 of 95). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (56) and Black or African American (25).
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Urban Forestry Schools ranking. In all, 12 colleges offer urban forestry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Urban Forestry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common urban forestry credential is the master’s degree: 48 of the 95 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to urban forestry call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Instructing, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an urban forestry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 48 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to urban forestry, at 52.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 52.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.2% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Urban Forestry, with an average median salary of $86,686; the strongest outlook belongs to Foresters, at 5.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Wildlife Conservation Professor, Natural Resources Professor, Natural Resources Program Instructor and Forest Explorers Instructor.
The occupation related to urban forestry 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% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
Urban Forestry 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to urban forestry, with a median salary of $93,406.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
Urban Forestry has 7 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 2,400 degrees a year; the largest are Forestry, General (1,235), Forest Sciences and Biology (370) and Forest Management/Forest Resources Management (287). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Forestry, General | 1,235 |
| Forest Sciences and Biology | 370 |
| Forest Management/Forest Resources Management | 287 |
| Forest Technology/Technician | 283 |
| 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.
