# Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy

> A program that prepares individuals to plan, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to protect and regulate natural habitats and renewable natural resources. Includes instruction in the principles of wildlife and conservation biology, environmental science, animal population surveying, natural resource economics, management techniques for various habitats, applicable law and policy, administrative and communications skills, and public relations.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-natural-resources-management-and-policy
- CIP code: 03.02 (Natural Resources and Conservation)
- Colleges offering it: 92 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 55 | $40,682 | $63,891 | $10,051 |
| Associate's | 39 | $30,131 | $42,420 | $11,500 |
| Bachelor's | 92 | $42,930 | $53,642 | $19,763 |
| Master's | 66 | $55,567 | $70,294 | $30,405 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 39 | not reported | $64,887 | $41,250 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | Bakersfield, CA | $82,315 | not reported |
| [West Virginia University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-virginia-university-main-campus-3219) | Morgantown, WV | $75,022 | $22,313 |
| [University of Rhode Island](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-rhode-island-uri-3025) | Kingston, RI | $72,311 | $19,500 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | San Luis Obispo, CA | $68,965 | $15,083 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | East Lansing, MI | $68,913 | $20,000 |
| [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry-2648) | Syracuse, NY | $65,604 | $20,250 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Boca Raton, FL | $61,850 | $41,044 |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Poughkeepsie, NY | $58,610 | not reported |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | College Station, TX | $54,665 | not reported |
| [Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science](https://www.collegesref.com/college/paul-smiths-college-of-arts-and-science-2087) | Paul Smiths, NY | $53,788 | $25,000 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Environmental Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-police-and-detectives): $106,040 median pay
- [Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forestry-and-conservation-science-teachers-postsecondary): $101,420 median pay
- [Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-scientists-and-related-workers-all-other): $101,110 median pay
- [Transportation Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/transportation-planners): $101,110 median pay
- [Detectives and Criminal Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/detectives-and-criminal-investigators): $93,790 median pay
- [Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/intelligence-analysts): $93,790 median pay
- [Police Identification and Records Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/police-identification-and-records-officers): $93,790 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-firefighting-and-prevention-workers): $93,530 median pay
- [Compliance Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Coroners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/coroners): $80,730 median pay
- [Customs Brokers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customs-brokers): $80,730 median pay
- [Environmental Compliance Inspectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-compliance-inspectors): $80,730 median pay
- [Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/equal-opportunity-representatives-and-officers): $80,730 median pay
- [Government Property Inspectors and Investigators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/government-property-inspectors-and-investigators): $80,730 median pay

## More in Natural Resources and Conservation

- [Natural Resources Conservation and Research](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/natural-resources-conservation-and-research): 797 colleges
- [Forestry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/forestry): 74 colleges
- [Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/wildlife-and-wildlands-science-and-management): 59 colleges
- Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management: 19 colleges
- Natural Resources and Conservation, Other: 14 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/