ENROLLMENT TRENDS IN NATURAL
RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAMS IN THE
U.S. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY
Terry L. Sharik
Peter Ziegler
Research Professor
Principal Investigator
Tara L. Bal
Deelan Jalil
Research Assistant Professor
Data Analyst
Andrew Meeks
Application Developer
Food and Agricultural Education Information Systems
Society of American Foresters National Conference
Louisville, KY, November 2, 2019
Key References
Sharik, T. L., R. J. Lilieholm, W. W. Richardson, and
W. E. Lindquist. 2015. Undergraduate enrollment
in U.S. natural resource academic programs: Trends,
drivers, and implications for the future of the
profession. Journal of Forestry 113 (6):538-551.
Sharik, T. L. 2015. Strategies for diversifying
student demographics in natural resources. Journal
of Forestry 113 (6):579-580.
Status of NAUFRP Institutions Contributing to FAEIS database.
Institution Name
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Alcorn State University
American Samoa Community College
Auburn University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Clemson University
Colorado State University
Cornell University
Delaware State University
Duke University
Florida A and M University
Fort Valley State University
Humboldt State University
Iowa State University
Kansas State University
Kentucky State University
Lincoln University of Missouri
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Tech University
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Mississippi State University
New Mexico State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Dakota State University
Northern Arizona University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Paul Smith's College of the Adirondacks
Purdue University
Rutgers University- New Brunswick
Salish Kootenai College
South Dakota State University
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Stephen F. Austin State University
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Tennessee State University
Texas A&M University
TYPE
1890
1890
1862
1862
NLG
1862
1862
1862
1890
PVT
1890
1890
NLG
1862
1862
1890
1890
1862
NLG
1862
NLG
1862
1862
1890
1862
1862
NLG
1862
1862
PVT
1862
1862
1994
1862
NLG
1890
NLG
NLG
1890
1862
Region
South
South
West
South
West
South
West
North-East
North-East
South
South
South
West
North-Central
North-Central
South
North-Central
South
South
North-Central
North-Central
South
West
South
South
North-Central
West
South
West
North-East
North-Central
North-East
West
North-Central
North-Central
South
South
North-East
South
South
2013 - 2017 Graduate Status
Not Offered
Not Offered
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
No Data
Incomplete Data
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Incomplete Data
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
No Data
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
2013-2017 Undergraduate Status
Incomplete Data
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
No Data
Incomplete Data
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
No Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
No Data
Complete(Would like confirmation)
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
The Ohio State University
The Pennsylvania State University
The University of Montana-Missoula
The University of Rhode Island
Tuskegee University
University of Alaska- Fairbanks
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of California- Berkeley
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Guam
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Idaho
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Maine
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
University of Massachusetts
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor
University of Minnesota- St. Paul
University of Missouri
University of Nebraska- Lincoln
University of Nevada- Reno
University of New Hampshire
University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
University of Tennessee
University of the Virgin Islands
University of Vermont
University of Washington- Seattle
University of Wisconsin- Madison
University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point
University of Wyoming
Utah State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Washington State University
West Virginia State University
West Virginia University
1862
1862
NLG
1862
1890
1862
1862
NLG
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1890
1862
NLG
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
1862
NLG
1862
NLG
1862
1862
1862
1862
1890
1862
North-Central
North-East
West
North-East
South
West
West
South
West
North-East
North-East
South
South
West
West
West
North-Central
South
North-East
North-East
North-East
North-Central
North-Central
North-Central
North-Central
West
North-East
South
South
South
North-East
West
North-Central
North-Central
West
West
South
West
North-East
North-East
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Incomplete Data
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Complete
No Data
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
No Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Waiting on Confirmation of Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
Complete
Not Offered
Incomplete Data
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Complete
No Data
Complete
No Data
Complete
Complete (Will Apply Remedy)
Complete
Complete
Incomplete Data
No Data
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Complete
Complete
Waiting on Confirmation of Data
Complete
Complete
Complete
Complete
Not Offered
Complete
Undergraduate Enrollment
Undergraduate NR enrollment by field of study at 31
NAUFRP institutions, 1980–2009.
Proportion of undergraduate NR enrollment in various fields
of study at 31 NAUFRP institutions for 1980, 1990, 2000,
and 2009.
USDA Forest Service employment in NR-related job series,
2001–2010 (USDA Forest Service, unpubl. data, 2010, file
date Apr. 24, 2011).
Undergraduate NR enrollment by academic area at 61
NAUFRP institutions, 2005–2017 (FAEIS October 1, 2019).
35
8
30
7
25
6
5
20
4
15
3
10
2
5
1
0
Total Enrollment (1000's)
Academic Area Enrollment (1000's)
9
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Environmental Science and Studies
Fisheries and Wildlife
Forestry
Natural Resources Conservation and Management
Natural Resources Recreation
Range Science and Management
Watershed Science and Management
Wood Science/Products
Proportion of NR undergraduates enrolled in various
academic areas at 61 NAUFRP institutions, 2012 & 2017
(FAEIS October 1, 2019).
2017
(n=28,707)
2012
(n=26,506)
Wood
Range Science,
Science/Produc
389, 2%
ts, 617, 2%
NR Recreation,
3017, 11%
Watershed
Science, 387,
2%
Fisheries &
Wildlife, 7599,
29%
Forestry, 4036,
15%
NR
Conservation &
Management,
5041, 19%
Environmental
Science/Studies
, 5420, 20%
Range Science,
351, 1%
Wood
Science/Products,
614, 2%
Watershed
Science, 431,
2%
NR Recreation,
2165, 8%
Forestry, 4140,
14%
NR
Conservation
&
Management,
6404, 22%
Fisheries &
Wildlife, 7768,
27%
Environmental
Science/Studies,
6834, 24%
Gender
Gender Context
Among 15 major disciplines recognized by the U.S.
Census Bureau, at 30% Agriculture and Natural
Resources is second only to Engineering in the lowest
percent of females with bachelor’s degrees in the
workforce (Carnevale et al. 2011).
Among the 10 Agriculture and Natural Resources
sub-disciplines, Forestry has the lowest percent
females at 17%.
About 55% of all undergraduates in the U.S. in all
disciplines are women.
Undergraduate NR enrollment by gender for 61 Institutions,
(FAEIS, only complete data, October 1, 2019), 2005–2017,
excluding unknown gender.
Gender
2005 2006
Female
5,891 6,342 6,783 7,207 8,172 8,900 10,561 10,801 10,866 11,070 11,608 12,088 13,135
%
Male
34.7
35.9
2008
37.8
2009
39.3
2010
39.6
2011
41.0
2012
41.1
2013
41.8
2014
43.4
2015
44.6
2016
44.8
2017
46.6
11,04 11,954 12,111 11,873 12,629 13,571 15,189 15,502 15,150 14,429 14,421 14,873 15,048
%
Total
34.8
2007
65.2
65.3
64.1
62.2
60.7
60.4
59.0
58.9
58.2
56.6
55.4
55.2
53.4
16,925 18,296 18,894 19,080 20,801 22,471 25,750 26,303 26,016 25,499 26,029 26,961 28,183
Undergraduate enrollment in NR programs at 61 NAUFRP
institutions (with completed data) by academic area and
gender, 2012 & 2017, excluding unknown gender.
2012
2017
Female
Male
% Female
% Female
Environmental Science & Studies
2,841
2,531
Fisheries & Wildlife
3,484
4,114
NR Conservation & Management
2,358
2,661
NR Recreation
1,038
1,978
Range Science & Management
131
257
Watershed Science & Management
126
261
Wood Science/Products
131
486
52.9
45.9
47.0
34.4
33.8
32.6
21.2
17.7
41.1
57.6
50.4
51.3
39.7
42.5
34.6
25.6
23.0
46.6
Areas
Forestry
692
Total 10,801
Data from FAEIS database, October 1, 2019.
3,214
15,502
Race/Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity Context
Among 15 major disciplines recognized by the U.S.
Census Bureau, at 10% Agriculture and Natural
Resources has the lowest percent of minorities with
bachelor’s degrees in the workforce (Carnevale et
al. 2011).
Among the 10 Agriculture and Natural Resources
sub-disciplines, Forestry has the lowest percent
minorities in the workforce at 7%.
About one-third of all undergraduates in the U.S. in
all disciplines are minorities.
Total undergraduate enrollment in NR programs by race/ethnicity from
61 NAUFRP Institutions, FAIES dataset, 2005–2017 (excluding non-US
citizens, two or more races, unknown and unspecified).
30
Enrollment (Thousands)
25
20
15
10
5
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Black, non-Hispanic
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
Total
Asian
Hispanic
White, non-Hispanic
Total minority undergraduate enrollment in NR programs by race/ethnicity from 61
NAURFP Institutions, FAIES dataset, 2005–2017 (excluding non-Hispanic white, nonUS citizens, two or more races, unknown and unspecified).
Enrollment (Thousands)
5
4
3
2
1
0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black, non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
Total Minority
Total and Percent undergraduate enrollment in NR programs by
race/ethnicity from 61 NAUFRP Institutions, FAIES dataset, 2005–2017
(excluding non-US citizens, two or more races).
Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or
Alaskan Native
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011 2012 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
198 (1.0) 194 (1.0)
208 (1.0)
209 (1.0)
336 (1.5)
400 (1.6)
342 (1.3) 327 (1.3 294 (1.2)
309 (1.2)
263 (1.0)
274 (1.1)
286 (1.1)
Asian
315 (1.6) 419 (2.2)
520 (2.5)
601 (2.8)
624 (2.7)
685 (2.8)
757 (2.9) 789 (3.1) 749 (2.90
765 (3.1)
820 (3.3)
898 (3.4)
1020 (3.8)
Black, non-Hispanic
147(0.8) 243 (1.3)
316 (1.5)
322 (1.5)
336 (1.5)
325 (1.3)
506 (1.9)
Hispanic
472 (2.5) 573 (2.9) 679 (3.3)
684 (3.2)
438 (1.7) 461 (1.8) 448 (1.80 464 (1.9) 502 (2.0) 482( 1.8)
1423
1552
815 (3.6) 1090 (4.5) 1371 (5.3)
(5.5)
(6.1) 1677 (6.8) 1888 (7.5) 2069 (7.9)
Native Hawaiian or
other Pacific Islander
2005
Unknown Ethnicity
28 (0.1)
4372
(22.8)
18 (0.1)
2602
(13.4)
24 (0.1)
12 (0.1)
20 (0.1) 34 (0.10
31 (0.1)
2869
(14.0) 3371 (15.7) 3492 (15.3) 3797 (15.6) 3174 (12.3)
Unspecified Minority
69 (0.4)
81 (0.4)
82 (0.4)
13548
(70.8)
White, non-Hispanic
Total
Total Minority
39 (0.2) 125 (0.5) 149 (0.6) 186 (0.7) 162 (0.6)
2458
2355
(9.6)
(9.2) 1614 (6.5) 1516 (6.0) 1719 (6.6)
214 (1.0)
208 (0.9)
283 (1.2)
307 (1.2) 151 (0.6) 148 (0.6)
15297
(78.7)
15749
(77.0) 16050 (74.8)
17055
(74.5)
17674
(72.8)
19451
(75.2)
20074
(78.0)
19,149
19,427
20,447
21,463
22,886
24,288
25,871
1229
(6.4)
1528
(7.9)
1829
(8.9) 2042 (9.5)
2339
(10.2)
2817
(11.6)
3246
(12.5)
10 (0.0)
2273 (8.4)
206 (0.8)
1650 (6.1)
48 (0.2)
47 (0.2)
84 (0.30
19873
(77.8)
19736
(79.7)
19847
(79.2)
20476
(78.5) 21095 (77.8)
25,722
25,544
24,762
25,069
26,090
3190
(12.4)
3316
(13.0)
3412
(13.8)
3706
(14.8)
3895
(14.9) 4375 (16.1)
27,120
U.S. Population of 18- to 24-year olds by
race/ethnicity, 2005 to 2009.
White, Non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Black
Asian and Pacific
Islander
American
Indian/Alaskan Native
2005
18,057,079
(61.9%)
5,145,678
(17.7%)
4,340,582
(14.9%)
1,241,298
(4.3%)
366,761
(1.3%)
2006
18,074,501
(61.7%)
5,196,018
(17.7%)
4,393,557
(15.0%)
1,239,657
(4.2%)
372,658
(1.3%)
2007
18,125,260
(61.5%)
5,247,627
(17.8%)
4,466,142
(15.2%)
1,242,635
(4.2%)
378,035
(1.3%)
2008
18,235,034
(61.2%)
5,360,039
(18.0%)
4,576,954
(15.4%)
1,251,080
(4.2%)
382,971
(1.3%)
2009
18,335,329
(60.8%)
5,502,605
(18.2%)
4,676,303
(15.5%)
1,261,022
(4.2%)
387,389
(1.3%)
Undergraduate NR enrollment at 67 NAUFRP institutions by race/ethnicity as a
percentage of the 18- to 24-year-old population in each group, 2005–2009 (US
Census Bureau 2010, U.S. Department of Education 2010; FAEIS database, Apr. 12,
2010).
Undergraduate NR enrollment by academic area and race/ethnicity at
61 NAUFRP institutions (FAEIS data, excluding unknown ethnicity,
non-US citizens, and two or more races), 2017.
Native
Academic Area
Natural Resources
Conservation &
Management
Environmental
Science and
Studies
Wood
Science/Products
Range Science
and Management
Watershed Science
and Management
Fisheries and
Wildlife
Natural Resources
Recreation
Forestry
Total Enrollment
in 2017
American
Hawaiian
Black,
White,
Total
Total
or other
Total Enrollment Indian or
Minority Minority %
nonAlaskan
Pacific Unspecified nonNative Asian Hispanic Hispanic Islander
Minority Hispanic
5427
42
339
126
507
177
61
4175
1252
23.1
5679
37
435
140
672
7
5
4383
1296
22.8
558
5
49
14
33
0
0
457
101
18.1
328
9
4
0
33
0
0
282
46
14.0
407
20
11
4
18
0
2
352
55
13.5
7158
98
112
112
618
10
10
6198
960
13.4
2025
3888
7
68
112
280
2273
(8.9)
5
7
3
3
1790
3458
21095
(82.8)
235
430
11.6
11.1
4375
17.2
25470
34
74
36
36
1020
286 (1.1) (4.0) 506 (1.9)
206 (0.8) 84 (0.3)
Undergraduate enrollment in NR programs at NAUFRP
institutions (FAIES data, n=61) by race/ethnicity and gender,
2017 (excluding unknown gender, unknown ethnicity).
Race/ Ethnicity
Asian
Unspecified Minority
Hispanic
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
ALL Non-US Citizens
Two or More Races
Black, non-Hispanic
White, non-Hispanic
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Grand Total
Female
620
48
1297
116
314
553
249
9260
122
12579
Male
399
36
975
90
254
464
257
11816
164
14455
Total
1020
84
2273
206
568
1019
506
21095
286
27057
% Female
60.8
57.1
57.1
56.3
55.3
54.3
49.2
43.9
42.7
46.5
Graduate Enrollment
Graduate NR enrollment by academic area at 54 NAUFRP
institutions, 2005–2017 (FAEIS October 1, 2019).
6.5
2500
2000
1500
5.5
1000
500
0
Total Graduate Enrollment
(1000s)
Academic Area Enrollment
3000
4.5
Environmental Science and Studies
Fisheries and Wildlife
Forestry
Natural Resources Conservation & Management
Natural Resources Recreation
Range Science and Management
Watershed Science & Management
Wood Science/Products