Ecology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Ecology is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the intricate relationships between living organisms and their environments. It explores how biological systems function across scales—from individual species to entire ecosystems—within the context of physical, chemical, and environmental influences. This program equips students with the analytical and scientific frameworks needed to investigate ecological processes and address pressing environmental challenges.
- Biogeochemistry: The study of how chemical elements and compounds cycle through living and non-living components of ecosystems, influencing nutrient availability and environmental health.
- Landscape and marine/aquatic dynamics: Examination of spatial patterns and processes shaping terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, including connectivity, fragmentation, and habitat distribution.
- Decomposition: Investigation into the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms and its critical role in nutrient recycling and energy flow within ecosystems.
- Global and regional elemental budgets: Quantitative analysis of element fluxes across ecosystems to assess environmental sustainability and human impacts.
- Biotic and abiotic regulation of nutrient cycles: Study of how living organisms and physical environmental factors jointly control the movement and transformation of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Ecophysiology: The physiological responses of organisms to environmental conditions, revealing how species adapt to stress, temperature, moisture, and other ecological factors.
- Ecosystem resilience, disturbance, and succession: Analysis of how ecosystems recover from disruptions such as fire or human activity, and how communities change over time.
- Community and habitat dynamics: Exploration of species interactions and spatial organization within habitats, and how these shape biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
- Organismal interactions: In-depth study of co-evolution, competition, predation, and mutualism that drive evolutionary and ecological change.
- Paleoecology: Reconstruction of past ecological conditions using fossil and geological records to understand long-term environmental change.
- Evolutionary ecology: The integration of evolutionary theory with ecological principles to explain the adaptive strategies of species in their natural environments.
Ecology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Ecology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Ecology degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary and Biological Scientists, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 264,970 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1043 | $100,830 | $58,670 - $154,630 | 1,310 | N/A |
| Biological Scientists, All Other 19-1029 | $93,330 | $54,500 - $159,780 | 59,710 | $44.87 |
| Life Scientists, All Other 19-1099 | $87,800 | $52,360 - $168,860 | 7,320 | $42.21 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1042 | $83,460 | $50,760 - $169,560 | 53,250 | N/A |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 19-1023 | $72,860 | $48,240 - $113,350 | 16,920 | $35.03 |
| Conservation Scientists 19-1031 | $67,950 | $45,260 - $107,720 | 25,590 | $32.67 |
Ecology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $70,736 in Florida to $124,058 in District of Columbia—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 264,970 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Ecology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Ecology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Ecology is found at University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (112 graduates), Utah State University (USU) (104 graduates), Iowa State University (ISU) (95 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (71 graduates), and Texas A & M University, College Station (63 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,201 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
112 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
104 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
53 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Master's
|
13 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| The University of Montana (UMW) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Dillon, Montana | Public | umwestern.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Western Colorado University |
Master's
|
8 | Gunnison, Colorado | Public | western.edu |
| Le Moyne College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Syracuse, New York | Private | lemoyne.edu |
| Saint Vincent College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Latrobe, Pennsylvania | Private | stvincent.edu |
| Susquehanna University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | Private | susqu.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Master's
|
7 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Sterling College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Craftsbury Common, Vermont | Private | sterlingcollege.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
6 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
5 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Colorado Mountain College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | Public | coloradomtn.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
|
4 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Northern State University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Aberdeen, South Dakota | Public | northern.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Southern Oregon University (SOU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Ashland, Oregon | Public | sou.edu |
| Franklin College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Franklin, Indiana | Private | franklincollege.edu |
| Hampshire College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | hampshire.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
2 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Aaniiih Nakoda College (ANC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Harlem, Montana | Public | ancollege.edu |
| Molloy College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Kent State University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Christian Brothers University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | cbu.edu |
| Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Keene, Texas | Private | swau.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Ecology programs
How much can I earn with a Ecology degree?
Salaries for Ecology graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $100,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $124,058 compared to $70,736 in Florida. Approximately 264,970 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Ecology programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Ecology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (112 graduates), Utah State University (USU) (104 graduates), and Iowa State University (ISU) (95 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Ecology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 960 in 2010 to 1,201 in 2023-24. This represents a 25% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Ecology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, and Biological Scientists, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 264,970 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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