# Natural Resources Conservation and Research

> A general program that focuses on the studies and activities relating to the natural environment and its conservation, use, and improvement. Includes instruction in 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/natural-resources-conservation-and-research
- CIP code: 03.01 (Natural Resources and Conservation)
- Colleges offering it: 797 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 | 141 | $41,059 | $48,824 | $15,500 |
| Associate's | 240 | $39,866 | $44,513 | $11,000 |
| Bachelor's | 797 | $40,774 | $54,627 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 224 | $61,167 | $73,253 | $40,919 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 90 | $79,633 | $100,702 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | $71,140 | $86,011 | $45,500 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 76 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Chestnut Hill, MA | $82,861 | not reported |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $78,731 | $19,000 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $78,624 | $12,000 |
| [Tufts University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tufts-university-2826) | Medford, MA | $77,753 | $15,500 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | Los Angeles, CA | $75,927 | $11,426 |
| [University of Houston-Clear Lake](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-houston-clear-lake-2921) | Houston, TX | $75,258 | not reported |
| [Massachusetts Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-maritime-academy-1616) | Buzzards Bay, MA | $74,393 | $25,000 |
| [Brandeis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brandeis-university-292) | Waltham, MA | $73,936 | $17,590 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $73,435 | $12,703 |
| [Santa Clara University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/santa-clara-university-2371) | Santa Clara, CA | $72,889 | $24,500 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forestry-and-conservation-science-teachers-postsecondary): $101,420 median pay
- [Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-teachers-postsecondary): $94,980 median pay
- [Climate Change Policy Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Restoration Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay
- [Industrial Ecologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/industrial-ecologists): $82,220 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
- [Regulatory Affairs Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-specialists): $80,730 median pay
- [Foresters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/foresters): $76,400 median pay
- [Conservation Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/conservation-scientists): $73,010 median pay
- [Park Naturalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/park-naturalists): $73,010 median pay
- [Range Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/range-managers): $73,010 median pay
- [Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-and-protection-technicians-including-health): $55,090 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-technicians): $54,560 median pay

## More in Natural Resources and Conservation

- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-natural-resources-management-and-policy): 92 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/