Natural Resources and Conservation

Natural resources and conservation

Listed by colleges as Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Focuses on the studies and activities relating to the natural environment and its conservation, use, and improvement. Covers subjects such as climate, air, soil, water, land, fish and wildlife, and plant resources; in the basic principles of environmental science and natural resources management; and the recreational and economic uses of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.

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Inside the major

Programs within this field

Colleges may offer this field under 4 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.

Natural Resources/Conservation, General: Focuses on the studies and activities relating to the natural environment and its conservation, use, and improvement. Covers subjects such as climate, air, soil, water, land, fish and wildlife, and plant resources; in the basic principles of environmental science and natural resources management; and the recreational and economic uses of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
Environmental Studies: Focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination. Covers the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.
Environmental Science: Focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of the physical environment and the solution of environmental problems, including subjects such as abating or controlling environmental pollution and degradation; the interaction between human society and the natural environment; and natural resources management. Covers biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, climatology, statistics, and mathematical modeling.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other: Natural resources conservation and research not listed above.

Where it can lead

Careers this field can lead to

Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.

Growing with the economy

Compliance Officers

Median pay: $80,730
Hiring change through 2035: 3.8%
Job openings a year: 32,700

To get hiredBachelor's degree

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Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Median pay: $82,220
Hiring change through 2035: 6.1%
Job openings a year: 7,300

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Shrinking

Forest and Conservation Technicians

Median pay: $54,560
Hiring change through 2035: −2.1%
Job openings a year: 3,800

To get hiredAssociate's degree

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Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Median pay: $55,090
Hiring change through 2035: 6.9%
Job openings a year: 5,300

To get hiredAssociate's degree

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $94,980
Hiring change through 2035: 2.7%
Job openings a year: 600

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

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Conservation Scientists

Median pay: $73,010
Hiring change through 2035: 5.3%
Job openings a year: 2,100

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Foresters

Median pay: $76,400
Hiring change through 2035: 2.2%
Job openings a year: 900

To get hiredBachelor's degree

Explore this career Growing with the economy

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Median pay: $101,420
Hiring change through 2035: 2.8%
Job openings a year: 100

To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree

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All work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $30,745 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.

Working style

How and where the work happens

Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.

0%of related openings involve substantial in-person or active work

Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.

College options

Where to study it

Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.

College	Degrees a year	Earnings, first year out	Admit rate	Average annual cost after aid
Southern New Hampshire University NH	504	$39,593	96%	$37,000
University of California-Berkeley CA	464	$41,250	12%	$10,000
University of California-Santa Barbara CA	338	$33,029	28%	$13,000
Texas A & M University-College Station TX	249	$35,249	63%	$17,000
University of California-Davis CA	241	$34,746	42%	$12,000
University of Vermont VT	232	$24,599	60%	$14,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA	220	$30,403	43%	$8,000
Western Washington University WA	207	$25,380	91%	$18,000
University of Colorado Boulder CO	206	$33,404	83%	$19,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison WI	173	$27,422	43%	$8,000
University of California-Santa Cruz CA	167	$28,054	63%	$14,000
University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA	158	$29,052	58%	$13,000
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN	150	$33,236	77%	$10,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus OH	143	$32,665	51%	$10,000
Florida State University FL	142	$29,068	25%	$10,000
University of South Florida FL	136	$27,213	41%	$9,000
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI	134	$23,494	18%	$5,000
University of Oregon OR	134	$23,540	85%	$18,000
North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC	133	$31,727	40%	$13,000
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ	132	$35,617	90%	$17,000
University of Arizona AZ	126	$31,709	86%	$16,000
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt CA	120	$26,601	99%	$11,000
Binghamton University NY	119	$28,448	38%	$20,000
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC	114	$29,460	19%	$9,000
University of California-Los Angeles CA	108	$36,898	9%	$10,000
University of Central Florida FL	108	—	40%	$10,000
Northern Arizona University AZ	104	$26,454	91%	$13,000
Appalachian State University NC	104	$21,973	89%	$15,000
San Diego State University CA	102	$33,271	34%	$13,000
University of Connecticut CT	99	$31,857	54%	$21,000
Oregon State University OR	98	$35,527	79%	$16,000
University of North Carolina Wilmington NC	95	$26,261	74%	$17,000
Iowa State University IA	92	$28,217	89%	$15,000
Grand Valley State University MI	91	$30,036	95%	$13,000
University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE	91	$29,641	77%	$15,000
University of Wyoming WY	91	—	97%	$10,000
Texas Tech University TX	86	$33,605	71%	$17,000
Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ	86	$35,617	64%	—
Michigan State University MI	84	$27,553	84%	$17,000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL	82	$28,401	44%	$8,000

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