Best Colleges for Natural Resources Management and Policy

Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates enter a growing field focused on sustainable environmental stewardship and conservation planning. With an average starting salary of $35,215, professionals in this sector work for government agencies, nonprofits, and private consulting firms to address climate change, habitat preservation, and resource allocation challenges.

When evaluating programs, students should prioritize hands-on fieldwork opportunities, internship partnerships with land management agencies, and coursework combining scientific principles with policy analysis. Strong programs typically feature faculty with real-world experience, access to research facilities, and connections to federal and state natural resource departments. Given that only 34 schools nationwide offer this specialized major, choosing a program with comprehensive practical training and industry connections is essential for career success.

Schools Ranked

$38,251

Avg. Program Earnings

60.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, California	$58,673	49.3%	public
2	University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island	$44,933	71.0%	public
3	University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, New Hampshire	$44,933	76.4%	public
4	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$44,384	68.6%	private-nonprofit
5	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan	$44,384	61.8%	public
6	California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo, California	$42,712	53.5%	public
7	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado	$42,402	29.9%	public
8	Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York	$41,565	79.8%	private-nonprofit
9	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$40,281	85.2%	public
10	St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, Florida	$39,741	37.5%	public
11	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, Colorado	$39,153	66.9%	public
12	Texas State University San Marcos, Texas	$36,848	56.2%	public
13	Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, Maine	$36,668	57.0%	private-nonprofit
14	SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York	$36,131	69.9%	public
15	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$35,954	63.7%	public
16	Glenville State University Glenville, West Virginia	$35,416	35.5%	public
17	Chapman University Orange, California	$35,060	80.4%	private-nonprofit
18	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$33,993	83.8%	public
19	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina	$33,281	59.1%	public
20	Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas	$33,281	51.2%	public
21	Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths, New York	$31,996	53.3%	private-nonprofit
22	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin	$31,640	56.0%	public
23	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, Tennessee	$31,314	54.8%	public
24	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$31,038	62.6%	public
25	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$30,499	51.2%	public