by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy explores Environmental/natural Resources Management And Policy, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Develop, Manage, And Evaluate Programs To Protect And Regulate Natural Habitats And Renewable Natural Resources. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of Wildlife And Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Animal Population Surveying, Natural Resource Economics, Management Techniques For Various Habitats, Applicable Law And Policy, Administrative And Communications Skills, And Public Relations. Examples: [Ecosystem Management], [Environmental Policy And Decision Making]. Read on to learn the essential details every environmental/natural resources management and policy student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental/natural resources management and policy programs.
Nationwide, environmental/natural resources management and policy draws strong interest, with 1,626 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy Schools ranking analyzes these 65 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental/natural resources management and policy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental/natural resources management and policy programs later in this article.
Programs in Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental/natural resources management and policy graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a environmental/natural resources management and policy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a environmental/natural resources management and policy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental/natural resources management and policy 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 43 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 714 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 850 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental/natural resources management and policy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental/natural resources management and policy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in environmental/natural resources management and policy opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to environmental/natural resources management and policy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resources management and policy.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Conservation Scientists | 208,826 | 13.4% |
| Range Managers | 175,572 | 1.3% |
| Foresters | 93,289 | 5.1% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of environmental/natural resources management and policy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 environmental/natural resources management and policy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental/natural resources management and policy grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Foresters | $93,406 |
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
With 65 different environmental/natural resources management and policy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental/natural resources management and policy school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in environmental/natural resources management and policy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
