by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 122 degrees and certificates in Natural Resources Conservation (Other). Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Natural Resources Conservation (Other) Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,432 one year after completing, rising to $47,735 after four years.
Natural Resources Conservation is a wide field and contains many different majors from Wildlife Management to Fisheries Science. However, there are some lesser-known majors that may interest you. Choosing a more narrow focus allows you the opportunity to focus on a particular area of natural resource conservation and go into a field that you are genuinely passionate about.
One lesser known major is Sustainable Resource Management. In this major students will learn how to ensure the longevity of resources that are used often. Students could also choose to major in Zoology and learn about animals, conserving habitats and the intricacy of ecological systems. These are just a few examples of subjects you may want to concentrate in. Before committing to a college, examine their course offerings to ensure they offer the classes you are interested in.
Any major in Natural Resources will include a strong science curriculum ranging from biology and ecology to chemistry and environmental science. Sustainable Resource Management will also include classes in policy and wildlife management while Zoology will focus on animal physiology, genetics, and mammalogy.
Studying Natural Resources Conservation (Other) explores Natural Resources And Conservation, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, natural resources conservation (other) is a popular field of study, with 122 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award natural resources conservation (other) degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 54.
By level, the 122 awards include 5 associate degrees, 62 bachelor’s degrees and 55 master’s degrees.
Women earned 46% of natural resources conservation (other) degrees and certificates in the latest year (56 of 122). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (95) and Hispanic or Latino (7).
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Natural Resources Conservation (Other) Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks natural resources conservation (other) schools within 1 state. In all, 12 colleges offer natural resources conservation (other) programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation (Other) Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common natural resources conservation (other) credential is the bachelor’s degree: 62 of the 122 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to natural resources conservation (other) call most for Instructing, Learning Strategies and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
If you have a passion for the environment and wish to ensure certain resources and animals will be around for future generations, then a major in this field could be perfect for you. Many of the majors in this field of study could lead to spending time outdoors performing fieldwork while also providing the opportunity to work in labs or even classrooms informing the public of the importance of natural resource conservation.
Students interested in this field should take as many science courses as possible during High School. Critical and analytical thinking and problem solving skills are also important. Many of the majors in this field also require students to learn to be excellent communicators and work on their speaking and writing skills.
Internships, summer jobs, or volunteering with conservation efforts will provide experience that will be helpful while pursuing a major in Natural Resources. Organizations such as The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. National Park Service are committed to conserving resources and habitats and often allow students the opportunity to learn from them as an intern.
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How long a natural resources conservation (other) degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 62 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 55 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to natural resources conservation (other), at 62.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 62.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 22.1% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Natural Resources Conservation (Other), with an average median salary of $79,966; the strongest outlook belongs to Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 4.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Natural Resources Instructor, Forest Pathology Professor, Forest Ecology Professor and Extension Professor.
A degree in the Natural Resources, including Sustainable Resource Management or Zoology among others, will prepare graduates for a career at any number of conservation organizations or government agencies. The more advanced the degree, the more opportunities will be available to graduates along with greater opportunities to advance. The career fields in natural conservation have been slowly growing over the past couple years. Competition for jobs may be high depending on what area you live in.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to natural resources conservation (other), at 497,622.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
Natural Resources Conservation (Other) graduates earn a median $32,432 one year after completing their program, $47,735 after four years and $47,153 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,432 |
| 4 years | $47,735 |
| 5 years | $47,153 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to natural resources conservation (other), with a median salary of $79,966.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
Natural Resources Conservation (Other) includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Natural Resources and Conservation, Other (122). It has 5 similar majors in the Natural Resources & Conservation field, which together award 33,867 degrees a year; the largest are Natural Resources Conservation and Research (25,253), Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy (3,145) and Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management (2,547). Browse all Natural Resources & Conservation majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources and Conservation, Other | 122 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 25,253 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3,145 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 2,547 |
| Forestry | 2,495 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | 427 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
