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Natural Resources · Forestry Rank #5 of 29

Forestryat University of Idaho

Graduates earn $47,399/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $554K; scenarios range from $516K to $559K depending on AI disruption.

Moscow, ID Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,399
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$554K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Idaho

The University of Idaho's strength in forestry isn't just about academics; it's about geography. You'll be studying in the heart of timber country, surrounded by vast national forests and a robust wood products industry. This deep regional connection creates a powerful recruiting pipeline directly into organizations like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and major private timber companies that manage the surrounding lands. The curriculum is deeply practical, moving you from the classroom into the university's own 10,000-acre experimental forest for hands-on experience. This isn't just theory; you’re learning the skills local employers need for managing fire risk, sustainable harvesting, and conservation. To make the most of this, aggressively pursue a summer internship with a federal agency or a local timber firm—that direct field experience is often the clearest path to a full-time offer after graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$516K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple14.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$554K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple15.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$559K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Idaho's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Forestry graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Foresters
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$70,660/yr
Moderate
3
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
4
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$59,330/yr
Low
5
Forest and conservation technicians
-3.2% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$54,310/yr
Moderate
6
Forest and conservation workers
-4.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$43,680/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Forestry

How University of Idaho stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
19.2x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
58
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
15.5x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
CA · Public
57
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
19.1x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
50
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
University of Georgia
GA · Public
56
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
16.2x
ROI
Also at University of Idaho

Other top programs at University of Idaho

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Idaho, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Forestry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Forestry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Forestry at University of Idaho

What does a 52/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Forestry at University of Idaho?

At 52/100, University of Idaho's Forestry program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Is University of Idaho one of the best schools for Forestry?

Among 29 Forestry programs, University of Idaho's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.