by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 159 U.S. colleges awarded 3,145 degrees and certificates in Natural Resource Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Natural Resource Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $42,496 one year after completing, rising to $60,588 after four years.
Are you concerned with the way humans currently interact with nature? Do you worry we are running out of natural resources? Would you like to create policies to help with conservation?
A degree in Natural Resource Management will give you the ability to develop policies that will help preserve nature while catering to peoples' needs. Classes will cover topics such as how people interact with natural resources, how resources can be protected and preserved, and how to regulate natural habitats. Some specific courses include biology, environmental science, economics, law and policy, and communications.
Specialty areas within the major include Natural Resources Management and Policy, Natural Resource Economics, Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management, Land Use Planning and Management/Development, Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, and Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services.
A major in Natural Resource Management involves the study of Environmental/natural Resources Management And Policy.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., natural resource management is a popular field of study, with 3,145 degrees awarded annually. 159 colleges award natural resource management degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 241.
By level, the 3,145 awards include 60 certificates, 156 associate degrees, 1,557 bachelor’s degrees, 1,332 master’s degrees and 25 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of natural resource management degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,686 of 3,145). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,177) and Hispanic or Latino (296), and international students earned 219.
College Factual ranks 57 schools in its 2027 Best Natural Resource Management Schools ranking, including 4 for associate degrees, 37 for bachelor’s degrees and 14 for master’s degrees. It also ranks natural resource management schools within 29 states. In all, 159 colleges offer natural resource management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Natural Resource Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common natural resource management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,557 of the 3,145 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to natural resource management call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
If you are passionate about the environment and enjoy working with others, this could be an excellent major for you. With a degree in Natural Resource Management, you will have the ability to plan, develop, and manage policies that will affect the way resources are used and interacted with. This degree prepares you for a career where you will be able to creatively develop original solutions to problems pertaining to natural resources.
A career in Natural Resource Management requires people to be personable and effective communicators. Natural resource managers work with policy makers and other conservationists to develop solutions to natural resource issues. This requires the ability to work with others and persuade others to support your cause. Natural resource managers must also carefully analyze data and make sound decisions on how to better manage the environment and its resources.
It is recommended that anyone interest in this major get hands-on experience through an internship or a summer job. A government agency like the National Park Service allows students to work closely with conservationists and policy makers to learn about resource management.
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How long a natural resource management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 60 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 156 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,557 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,332 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 25 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to natural resource management, at 40.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.3% |
| Master’s degree | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 6.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Natural Resource Management, with an average median salary of $78,359; the strongest outlook belongs to First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers, at 15.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Assistant Professor, University Faculty Member and College Professor.
Graduates with a degree in Natural Resource Management often hold management positions in public, private, and nonprofit sectors of agencies, government, corporations, consulting firms, and community-based organizations based in conservation and natural resources.
The occupation related to natural resource management with the most projected jobs is Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 830,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| 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% |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Fish and Game Wardens | 496,968 | 0.7% |
| Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists | 492,341 | 8.2% |
Natural Resource Management graduates earn a median $42,496 one year after completing their program, $60,588 after four years and $58,501 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $42,496 |
| 4 years | $60,588 |
| 5 years | $58,501 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to natural resource management is Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, with a median salary of $170,172.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
Natural Resource Management includes 8 concentrations that together award 3,145 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General (1,621), Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (335) and Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other (318). It has 5 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 30,844 degrees a year; the largest are Natural Resources Conservation and Research (25,253), Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management (2,547) and Forestry (2,495). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 25,253 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 2,547 |
| Forestry | 2,495 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | 427 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | 122 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
