by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resource Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a natural resource management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find where natural resource management graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose natural resource management graduates go on to earn the most.
California State University Bakersfield tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools in the United States. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,104.
Strong graduate earnings at Marist College earned it the #2 place for natural resource management. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of Marist College earn a median of about $75,821 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Central Michigan University one of the highest-paying schools for natural resource management. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Natural Resource Management graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of about $70,146 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the highest-paying schools for natural resource management. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Colorado State University Fort Collins make a median of around $65,688 per year.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver produces some of the highest-paid graduates in natural resource management, landing the #5 spot this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school located in the city of Denver. Natural Resource Management graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of about $64,712 a year early in their careers.
University Of Miami ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from University Of Miami typically earn about $55,112 annually.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry came in at #7 for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry earn a median of about $54,010 a year early in their careers.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #8 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. University Of Rhode Island is a public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of about $64,504 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #9 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $69,368 a year early in their careers.
Michigan State University came in at #10 for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $48,967 per year.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $60,668 per year.
Unity College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Unity College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Gloucester. Natural Resource Management graduates of Unity College earn a median of about $59,268 a year early in their careers.
Glenville State College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Located in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Glenville State College make a median of around $57,986 per year.
Humboldt State University came in at #14 for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from Humboldt State University typically earn about $47,629 annually.
West Virginia University landed the #15 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from West Virginia University typically earn about $47,232 annually.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science landed the #16 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science make a median of around $55,219 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #17 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of about $53,081 a year early in their careers.
St Petersburg College landed the #18 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. St Petersburg College is a public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Natural Resource Management graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of about $52,247 a year early in their careers.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #19 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College make a median of around $57,520 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school located in the city of College Station. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $60,521 per year.
Everglades University earned the #21 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Everglades University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,859.
Oregon State University earned the #22 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from Oregon State University typically earn about $45,158 annually.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #23 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus make a median of around $41,681 per year.
Western Carolina University came in at #24 for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of about $42,455 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #25 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,703.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid natural resource management ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Natural Resource Management rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries natural resource management graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 32 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
