by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, environmental/natural resource economics was the 1,013 most popular major nationwide with 118 degrees awarded. This represents a 23.7% reduction in natural resource economics degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 146.
This year's Best Environmental/Natural Resource Economics Schools ranking compares 8 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom natural resource economics rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Sustainability & Environmental Compliance
Learn to fit environmental standards into your business practices when you earn your sustainability and environmental compliance MBA at Southern New Hampshire University.
BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources & Conservation
Develop a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set to solve complex environmental problems like climate change, alternative energy and sustainability with a specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics majors are found most commonly in careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is important. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional natural resource economics certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of natural resource economics degrees. Environmental/Natural Resource Economics programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest natural resource economics degree you can get. Different environmental/natural resource economics degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to natural resource economics, with approximately 79.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for natural resource economics workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 79.9% |
| High School Diploma | 13.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.4% |
| Some College Courses | 2.0% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.6% |
About 79.4% of workers in careers related to natural resource economics obtain at least bachelor's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in environmental/natural resource economics careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the natural resource economics career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your natural resource economics degree? Environmental/Natural Resource Economics careers are expected to grow 4.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resource economics.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Fish and Game Wardens | 7,300 | 4.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for natural resource economics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for environmental/natural resource economics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers natural resource economics grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Fish and Game Wardens | $59,260 |
With over 23 different natural resource economics degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased natural resource economics school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Environmental/Natural Resource Economics that might interest you.
BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources & Conservation
Develop a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set to solve complex environmental problems like climate change, alternative energy and sustainability with a specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
BS in Environmental Science - Data Analytics in Science
Help solve real environmental challenges through data with this specialized environmental science degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics is one of 7 different types of Natural Resource Management programs to choose from.
Image Credit: By Brian M. Powell under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
