by our College Data Analytics TeamConservation Biology was the 694th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 309 degrees in this year alone. This 35 less than the prior year, a decrease of 11.3%.
This year's Best Conservation Biology Schools ranking compares 19 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of conservation biology programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in conservation biology is using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific conservation biology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different conservation biology degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in conservation biology to something that takes less time like a . The type of conservation biology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to conservation biology, with approximately 30.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to conservation biology tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 30.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 13.0% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4.4% |
52.2% of conservation biology workers have at least a doctorate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in conservation biology have received.
The education level required is different depending on the conservation biology career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your conservation biology degree? Conservation Biology careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to conservation biology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Scientists | 41,800 | 8.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for conservation biology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for conservation biology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers conservation biology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Scientists | $83,600 |
With over 55 different conservation biology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased conservation biology school rankings to help you with this.
Conservation Biology is one of 11 different types of Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 2,305 |
| Marine Biology | 1,835 |
| Ecology | 1,060 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 697 |
| Environmental Biology | 466 |
Image Credit: By Ernst Haeckel under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
