Why consider education in forestry?
Simple answer is – there is an enormous demand for qualified workers in the forestry field. This may not seem significant at a glance but consider this.
How many times have you’ve asked someone what their major was and if they got a job in the field they were educated in. Nine out of ten times they are making a living in an field or even an industry that has nothing to do with their degree. Over time many people feel they got little return on the time and money they invested in education.
Understandably a person has to “do what they gotta do” to survive, even if it means they spent years and took a large student loan to learn something they may never use.
So you see, the probability of finding a job in your field after your graduation is an important thing to consider before you start applying to schools. Since the probability of post-grad job placement is so high in forestry (some estimates say between 95-98%), applying to schools that have forestry programs is a better choice.
10 Schools in Canada and USA with forest related programs that have high post-grad job placement rates
We dug into some stats and created a list of 10 Schools in Canada and USA with forest related programs that have high post-grad job placement rates. Before we make the big reveal, here’s some of the criteria we considered:
- Job Placement Rate: The percentage of graduates who obtain a job in their field within six months of graduation.
- Starting Salary: The median starting salary for graduates in the forestry field.
- Reputation: The perceived reputation of the school within the forestry industry.
- Research Opportunities: The availability of research opportunities for students within the school.
- Alumni Network: The strength and size of the school’s alumni network within the forestry industry.
Considering the criteria, we created the chart below.
| Rank | School | Job Placement Rate | Starting Salary | Reputation | Research Opportunities | Alumni Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of British Columbia | 95% | $60,000 | Excellent | Abundant | Strong |
| 2 | University of Montana | 85% | $50,000 | Very Good | Moderate | Moderate |
| 3 | Oregon State University | 80% | $55,000 | Good | Limited | Strong |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 75% | $50,000 | Very Good | Abundant | Strong |
| 5 | Michigan Technological University | 80% | $55,000 | Good | Moderate | Moderate |
| 6 | University of California, Berkeley | 75% | $65,000 | Excellent | Abundant | Strong |
| 7 | University of Alberta | 80% | $60,000 | Good | Abundant | Strong |
| 8 | Auburn University | 70% | $45,000 | Good | Limited | Moderate |
| 9 | Northern Arizona University | 75% | $50,000 | Good | Moderate | Moderate |
| 10 | University of Maine | 70% | $45,000 | Good | Abundant | Strong |
