Looking for a way to engineer a better world? Help advance the solutions that benefit forests and communities while protecting vital ecosystems. Focused on stewardship and sustainability, forest engineers work to minimize environmental impact while developing safe, cost-effective forest operations. Design and oversee projects like harvest unit planning, road construction, culvert installations and quarry development, while gaining the skills to evaluate and protect soil, streams and waterways in natural spaces.

Beavers are the original forest engineers, so it’s no surprise that OSU is one of only two universities in the U.S. that offers a forest engineering degree. Our graduates qualify to take both the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the Fundamentals of Land Surveying exam* as steps toward licensure as a Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor.

This degree, offered at the Corvallis campus, is the only Forest Engineering program in the U.S. that is accredited by both the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and Society of American Foresters (SAF). To learn more or file a complaint or grievance, please visit our SAF accreditation page.

*Requires completion of appropriate program electives

Career Opportunities: 

Graduates of Oregon State University’s Forest Engineering program step into their careers prepared to make a meaningful difference. With 84% securing jobs by the time they graduate, our students go on to strengthen the future of our forests, natural resources and the communities that depend on them.

Our graduates hold a number of roles, including: 

Forest Engineer | Forest Surveyor | Transportation Planner | Forest Infrastructure Engineer

There is strong demand for these roles with 6% projected growth from 2023 to 2033. Depending on the field you choose, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median national salaries ranging from $68,540 (surveyor) to $95,890 (transportation planner).

Forest Engineering professionals can expect to work on:

• Forest infrastructure engineering: Road and bridge design, stream-crossing construction and transportation system maintenance.
• Timber operations planning: Harvest unit layout, operational engineering and safe, efficient field implementation.
• Watershed and environmental protection: Erosion control strategies, water quality safeguards and habitat-sensitive project design.
• Technology and field analytics: GIS and LiDAR mapping, drone-based surveying and engineering data analysis.
• Resource planning and risk assessment: Long-term forest planning, slope stability evaluation and operational safety assessments.