by our College Data Analytics TeamAre 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. Continue reading for the key facts every natural resource management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering natural resource management programs.
In the U.S., natural resource management is a popular field of study, with 3,090 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Natural Resource Management Schools ranking analyzes these 149 schools to determine the best overall colleges for natural resource management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of natural resource management programs later in this article.
Programs in Natural Resource Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations natural resource management graduates commonly enter.
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.
The skill set built by a natural resource management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a natural resource management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several natural resource management 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 | 56 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 183 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,379 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,439 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to natural resource management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in natural resource management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
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.
Majoring in natural resource management prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to natural resource management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to natural resource management.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of natural resource management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 natural resource management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers natural resource management grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 149 different natural resource management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased natural resource management school rankings to help you.
Students interested in natural resource management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 23,853 |
| Forestry | 2,460 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 2,419 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | 407 |
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | 132 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
