by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 20 U.S. colleges awarded 335 degrees and certificates in Environmental/Natural Resource Economics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 84% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental/Natural Resource Economics 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.
A major in Environmental/Natural Resource Economics covers Environmental/natural Resource Economics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Economic Concepts And Methods To The Analysis Of Issues Such As Air And Water Pollution, Land Use Planning, Waste Disposal, Invasive Species And Pest Control, Conservation Policies, And Related Environmental Problems. Includes Instruction In Cost-Benefit Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, Evaluation And Assessment Of Alternative Resource Management Strategies, Policy Evaluation And Monitoring, And Descriptive And Analytic Tools For Studying How Environmental Developments Affect The Economic System. Examples: [Environmental Economics And Policy].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, environmental/natural resource economics draws strong interest, with 335 degrees awarded annually. 20 colleges award environmental/natural resource economics degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 176.
By level, the 335 awards include 281 bachelor’s degrees, 48 master’s degrees and 6 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of environmental/natural resource economics degrees and certificates in the latest year (200 of 335). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (144) and Asian (58), and international students earned 57.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental/Natural Resource Economics Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks environmental/natural resource economics schools within 4 states. In all, 20 colleges offer environmental/natural resource economics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Environmental/Natural Resource Economics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common environmental/natural resource economics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 281 of the 335 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to environmental/natural resource economics call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
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How long an environmental/natural resource economics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 281 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 48 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to environmental/natural resource economics, at 35.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Environmental/Natural Resource Economics, with an average median salary of $101,823; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Economics Professor, Economics Instructor, Microeconomics Professor and Professor.
The occupation related to environmental/natural resource economics with the most projected jobs is Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 830,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics 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 environmental/natural resource economics is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics has 7 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 2,810 degrees a year; the largest are Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General (1,621), Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other (318) and Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management (294). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
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