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Forest Sciences & Biology

Types of Degrees Forest Sciences & Biology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Forest Sciences & Biology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	1
Bachelor’s Degree	187
Master’s Degree	148
Doctor’s Degree	57

What Forest Sciences & Biology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Forest Sciences & Biology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Forest Sciences & Biology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Forest Sciences & Biology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Forest Sciences & Biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Forest Sciences & Biology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Forest Sciences & Biology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Forest Sciences & Biology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
ESRI ArcGIS software	Geographic information system	✓
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Geographic information system GIS software	Geographic information system	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Forest Sciences & Biology graduates include:

• Natural Resources Instructor
• Forest Products Teacher
• Range Instructor
• Natural Resources Faculty Member
• Forestry Faculty Member
• Extension Professor
• College Faculty Member
• Forest Resources Professor
• Associate Professor
• Range and Road Instructor
• Natural Resources Professor
• Environmental Conservation Professor
• Silviculture Professor
• Wildlife Conservation Professor
• Forest Management Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Forest Sciences & Biology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	37.6%
Doctoral degree	31.8%
Master’s degree	12.1%
Post-doctoral training	10.9%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	4.1%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
Postsecondary certificate	1.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.5%
Some college courses	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Forest Sciences & Biology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 60.3% of Forest Sciences & Biology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	156	39.7%
Men	237	60.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Forest Sciences & Biology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	299	76.1%
Asian	5	1.3%
Hispanic or Latino	26	6.6%
Black or African American	3	0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native	3	0.8%
Two or More Races	7	1.8%
Race Unknown	10	2.5%
International Students	40	10.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Forest Sciences & Biology Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Forest Sciences & Biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$44,042
4 years	$52,066
5 years	$60,484

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $60,484 — roughly 37% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Forest Sciences & Biology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Forest Sciences & Biology graduates earn a median of $52,066 four years after completion — roughly 37% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Forestry	03.05
Forest Management/Forest Resources Management	03.0506
Forest Resources Production and Management	03.0510
Forest Technology/Technician	03.0511
Forestry, General	03.0501
Forestry, Other	03.0599
Urban Forestry	03.0508
Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology/Technician	03.0509
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General	03.0201
Natural Resources/Conservation, General	03.0101
Land Use Planning and Management/Development	03.0206
Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management	03.0205

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.