by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 32 U.S. colleges awarded 294 degrees and certificates in Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 65% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management 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 Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management explores Water, Wetlands, And Marine Resources Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Principles Of Marine/aquatic Biology, Oceanography, Natural Resource Economics, And Natural Resources Management To The Development, Conservation, And Management Of Freshwater And Saltwater Environments. Includes Instruction In Subjects Such As Wetlands, Riverine, Lacustrine, Coastal, And Oceanic Water Resources; Water Conservation And Use; Flood Control; Pollution Control; Water Supply Logistics; Wastewater Management; Aquatic And Marine Ecology; Aquatic And Marine Life Conservation; And The Economic And Recreational Uses Of Water Resources.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, water, wetlands, & marine resources management is a widely-pursued major, with 294 degrees awarded annually. 32 colleges award water, wetlands, & marine resources management degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 49.
By level, the 294 awards include 15 certificates, 21 associate degrees, 55 bachelor’s degrees, 192 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of water, wetlands, & marine resources management degrees and certificates in the latest year (172 of 294). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (204) and Hispanic or Latino (36), and international students earned 16.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks water, wetlands, & marine resources management schools within 6 states. In all, 32 colleges offer water, wetlands, & marine resources management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common water, wetlands, & marine resources management credential is the master’s degree: 192 of the 294 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Biology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a water, wetlands, & marine resources management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 21 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 55 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 192 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management, at 35.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 35.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Master’s degree | 13.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management, with an average median salary of $74,463; the strongest outlook belongs to Conservation Scientists, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Natural Resources Faculty Member, Forest Technology Professor, Forest Pathology Professor and Range Instructor.
The occupation related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management with the most projected jobs is Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 497,622.
| 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% |
| Park Naturalists | 46,677 | 9.4% |
Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to water, wetlands, & marine resources management, with a median salary of $81,436.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Conservation Scientists | $81,436 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Park Naturalists | $76,516 |
| Range Managers | $59,935 |
Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management has 7 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 2,851 degrees a year; the largest are Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General (1,621), Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (335) and Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other (318). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
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