Forestry major
Forestry: courses, careers, and where to study
Forestry combines biology, ecology, and resource management to steward forests and woodlands. It suits students who want science-based, hands-on work managing land and natural resources.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Forestry earn a median $58,784 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,916 to $73,142 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Forestry major blends the natural sciences with applied resource management. Core coursework covers dendrology and tree identification, forest ecology, soils, silviculture (the practice of growing and tending stands), forest mensuration and inventory, wildlife and watershed management, fire ecology, and forest economics and policy. Programs build on a science foundation in biology, chemistry, and statistics, use GIS and remote sensing, and typically include a field-based summer camp or practicum where students apply surveying, sampling, and stand-assessment techniques in working forests.
The standard credential is a four-year Bachelor of Science. Many states regulate professional forester practice through registration or licensure, and graduates aiming at federal, state, or consulting roles often pursue Society of American Foresters program credentials; verify the licensure rules in the state where you intend to work. Research, university teaching, and senior scientific positions, such as conservation scientist or research forester roles, generally require a master's or doctorate beyond the bachelor's degree.
Graduates manage timber and conservation lands, run inventories and harvest plans, and advise landowners and agencies for the U.S. Forest Service, state forestry and natural-resource departments, private timber and consulting firms, and conservation nonprofits. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $70,660 for foresters and projects employment to change about 1.2% from 2024 to 2034.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Forestry maps to CIP 03.0501, Forestry, General, within the NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION family. The official definition:
A program that generally prepares individuals to manage and develop forest areas for economic, recreational, and ecological purposes. Includes instruction in forest-related sciences, mapping, statistics, harvesting and production technology, natural resources management and economics, wildlife sciences, administration, and public relations.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Forestry is awarded as
Of the 2,487 Forestry credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: 18%, 441 credentials.
- Associate: 14%, 346 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 48%, 1,201 credentials.
- Graduate: 20%, 499 credentials.
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Dendrology and tree identification
- Forest ecology, soils, and forest-stand dynamics
- Silviculture: regeneration, thinning, and stand management
- Forest mensuration and inventory (sampling, cruising, growth-and-yield)
- Wildlife, watershed, and fire management
- GIS, remote sensing, and forest mapping
- Forest economics, policy, and harvest planning
- A field-based summer camp or practicum in working forests
Typical careers
- Foresters
- Forest Technician
- Conservation Scientist
- Urban Forester / Arborist
- Forestry Consultant
- Forest Fire / Fuels Specialist
Typical salary range: BLS reports a 2024 median wage of $70,660 for foresters; early-career pay varies by employer, sector, and region.Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Forestry graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Forestry earn a median $58,784 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $44,916 to $73,142 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $58,784 | $44,916 to $73,142 |
| Associate's | $48,725 | $35,478 to $61,430 |
| Undergraduate certificate | $51,345 | $36,467 to $71,950 |
| Master's | $67,466 | $53,860 to $91,955 |
Compare Forestry programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Forestry programs
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC): $86,357, median federal debt $21,750
- California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (CA): $79,849, median federal debt $21,000
- Auburn University (AL): $64,704, median federal debt $18,750
- West Virginia University (WV): $64,568, median federal debt $20,500
- University of Idaho (ID): $64,392, median federal debt $16,500
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA): $64,204, median federal debt $20,663
- Clemson University (SC): $63,764, median federal debt $22,875
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities (MN): $58,651, median federal debt $19,500
- Mississippi State University (MS): $58,499, median federal debt $19,000
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (GA): $57,678, median federal debt $20,065
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Forestry. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Forestry, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $59,330 | 8,500 | +2.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,310 | 3,900 | -3.2% | Associate's degree |
| Conservation Scientists | $67,950 | 2,500 | +3.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Forest and Conservation Workers | $43,680 | 2,000 | -4.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Foresters | $70,660 | 1,100 | +1.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $100,830 | 100 | +4% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 6 of these 6 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Forestry does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Forestry major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Forestry program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Forestry department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Forestry program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Forestry credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Reedley College, CA · 196 credentials
- University of Florida, FL · 132 credentials
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA · 120 credentials
- Northern Arizona University, AZ · 119 credentials
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC · 89 credentials
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WI · 83 credentials
- California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, CA · 69 credentials
- University of Georgia, GA · 69 credentials
- Auburn University, AL · 63 credentials
- Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO · 62 credentials
- Stephen F Austin State University, TX · 57 credentials
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, NY · 54 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Forestry credentials were awarded
6 states have a distinct enough set of Forestry colleges to be worth its own page.
Every Forestry program with its own CampusPin page
3 programs in 3 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Forestry programs in Florida, 1 program
- University of Florida Bachelor's, $48,755
Forestry programs in North Carolina, 1 program
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Bachelor's, $86,357
Forestry programs in Virginia, 1 program
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bachelor's, $64,204
Related majors
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Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Forestry degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Farming, Fishing & Forestry careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Forestry degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Forestry path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.