by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, environmental/natural resources management and policy was the 348th most popular major nationwide with 1,630 degrees awarded. This represents a 3.0% increase in natural resources management and policy degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,581.
This year's Best Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy Schools ranking compares 36 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom natural resources management and policy rankings further below.
A major in natural resources management and policy prepares you for careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is crucial. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most natural resources management and policy degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic environmental/natural resources management and policy program qualifications, to serve in some natural resources management and policy careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different natural resources management and policy degree levels. You can get anything from a in environmental/natural resources management and policy to the highest natural resources management and policy degree, a . Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| 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 natural resources management and policy, with approximately 62.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for natural resources management and policy workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 53.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 20.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 4.5% |
88.3% of natural resources management and policy workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in environmental/natural resources management and policy have received.
The education level required is different depending on the natural resources management and policy career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your natural resources management and policy degree? Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy careers are expected to grow 5.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental/natural resources management and policy.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Scientists | 23,700 | 6.3% |
| Foresters | 12,900 | 4.9% |
| Forestry & Conservation Science Professors | 2,300 | 4.5% |
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As you might expect, salaries for natural resources management and policy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for environmental/natural resources management and policy graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers natural resources management and policy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Forestry & Conservation Science Professors | $92,550 |
| Conservation Scientists | $65,320 |
| Foresters | $63,150 |
With over 133 different natural resources management and policy 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 natural resources management and policy school rankings to help you with this.
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy is one of 7 different types of Natural Resource Management programs to choose from.
View All Natural Resources Management and Policy Related Majors >
Image Credit: By Brian M. Powell under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
