by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resource Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their natural resource management graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find where natural resource management graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send natural resource management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
California State University Bakersfield tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools in the Far Western Region. 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.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in natural resource management, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $69,368 per year.
Humboldt State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,629.
Strong graduate earnings at Oregon State University earned it the #4 place for natural resource management. Oregon State University is a public school located in the city of Corvallis. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,158.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Hawaii At Manoa one of the highest-paying schools for natural resource management. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa typically earn about $20,825 annually.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their natural resource management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.