25 Great Scholarships for Forestry Degrees

Money doesn’t grow on trees, so finding scholarships for forestry degrees is important to conserve your own financial resources.

Studying forestry builds the scientific skills to produce high-quality lumber products while preserving biodiversity. Removing timber for human consumption with minimum environmental impact is forestry’s goal. It’s increasingly essential because the United Nations FAO estimates that 18 million acres of forest are lost annually.

Foresters typically hold at least a bachelor’s degree from SAF-accredited universities to do their part fighting against Earth’s deforestation. Demand for foresters is slightly higher than other conservation scientists, with 10-year job growth poised at 8 percent through 2024. Forestry majors can also embrace the great outdoors as national/state park rangers, regional planners, landscape designers, logging production managers, and environmentalists.

Chop down your tuition bills while sprouting a long-lasting career with these 25 great forestry scholarships.

1. Allen W. Plumb Scholarship

Deadline: November 2nd

The New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association (NHLSA) gifts the $2,000 Allen W. Plumb Scholarship annually to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors residing in the “Granite State” who are undertaking accredited associate or bachelor’s programs for forestry. Aspiring professional land surveyors must submit three references, academic transcripts, financial aid information, and a personal essay. There are also the Warner M. Plummer and Melvin E. Jenkins Scholarships up for grabs.

Contact

Allen W. Plumb Scholarship

2 Moulton Street

Raymond, NH 03077

(800) 698-5447

info@nhlsa.org

Scholarship Link

2. Arborjet Taking Root Scholarship

Deadline: June 1st

Initiated by COO Russ Davis, the Arborjet Taking Root Scholarship provides $1,000 yearly to 10 outstanding high school seniors who will pursue arboriculture careers after an accredited two- or four-year degree. Acceptable majors include forestry, botany, plant biology, horticulture, natural conservation, environmental science, and entomology. College-bound, full-time U.S. students can apply via Scholarship Management Services with a transcript, appraisal form, and brief goals statement.

Contact

Arborjet Taking Root Scholarship

99 Blueberry Hill Road

Woburn, MA 01801

(781) 935-9070

arborjet@warnerpr.com

Scholarship Link

3. Bartlett Tree Experts Scholarship

Deadline: October 1st or January 16th

Each semester, Bartlett Tree Experts in Stamford, Connecticut, gives back by providing a $1,500 scholarship to two young arborists who intend to study horticulture, arboriculture, urban forestry, or similar majors. Eligibility criteria requires finishing a high school diploma or GED, entering a two- or four-year U.S. college, matriculating for 12+ credits per term, and exhibiting clear interest in trees. Participating schools include Cornell, Brigham Young, Penn State, Purdue, and SUNY ESF.

Contact

Bartlett Tree Experts Scholarship

P.O. Box 3067

Stamford, CT 06905

(203) 323-1131

tmcnulty@bartlett.com

Scholarship Link

4. Ben Meadows Leadership Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th

Named for one of America’s top outdoor supply providers, the Ben Meadows Leadership Scholarship has granted $2,500 annually since 1956 from the Society of American Foresters. It’s intended for college juniors and seniors who are enrolled full-time in SAF-accredited bachelor’s programs for forestry, agroforestry, natural resource, wood science, or wildlife management. Applicants must be actively involved in extracurricular activities, display leadership skills, and attain a cumulative GPA above 2.5.

Contact

Ben Meadows Leadership Scholarship

10100 Laureate Way

Bethesda, MD 20814

(301) 897-8720

membership@safnet.org

Scholarship Link

5. Carl Morrow Graduate Scholarships

Deadline: January 15th

The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust (CFMCT) honors the long-time VP of Missouri Power and late Chairman by awarding the Carl Morrow Graduate Scholarships for $1,000 apiece. Suitable candidates must live in one of Missouri’s 114 counties, enroll as master’s or doctoral students at in-state universities, and pursue conservation-related majors like forestry or fisheries management. Preference is given to previous recipients of the Charles P. Bell or Ed Stegner Scholarships.

Contact

Carl Morrow Graduate Scholarships

728 West Main Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101

(573) 634-2322

mhaymaker@confedmo.org

Scholarship Link

6. Carolyn A. Craig Scholarship

Deadline: January 20th

Founded in 1928, the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation (WGCF) offers five named forestry scholarships for “Badger State” natives, including the $2,000 Carolyn A. Craig Scholarship. This merit-based program honors the Master Landscape Consultant’s 24-year career by supporting upperclassmen studying horticulture, floriculture, botany, forestry, agronomy, or other land-related studies in Wisconsin. Students must hold junior or senior standing, possess a minimum 3.0 GPA overall, and exhibit volunteerism with gardening projects.

Contact

Carolyn A. Craig Scholarship

7437 Terrace Avenue

Madison, WI 53562

contactwgcf@gmail.com

Scholarship Link

7. E.B. Miller Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 15th

Valued at $1,000, the E.B. Miller Memorial Scholarship was created by the Ohio Forestry Association (OFA) to honor the third-generation sawmill worker who served as Chairman for the Paul Bunyan Show. Qualified recipients must be U.S. citizens living in the “Buckeye State,” attend an approved Ohio college for an associate or bachelor’s degree, major in forestry, show scholastic excellence with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and write an essay about challenges facing today’s forests.

Contact

E.B. Miller Memorial Scholarship

1100-H Brandywine Blvd.

Zanesville, OH 43701

(888) 388-7337

info@ohioforest.org

Scholarship Link

8. Emanuel Fritz Memorial Scholarships

Deadline: February 3rd

The Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC) remembers its founder and the developer of the California Forest Practice Rules by gifting three Emanuel Fritz Memorial Scholarships for $2,000 each year. Funding is reserved for returning undergraduates in the SAF-accredited forestry programs at California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt State University, or the University of California-Berkeley. Other Redwood lovers should consider the Kent & Larry Holmgren and Jere Melo Memorial Scholarships.

Contact

Emanuel Fritz Memorial Scholarships

5601 South Broadway

Eureka, CA 95503

(707) 443-4091

rrlc@sonic.net

Scholarship Link

9. Frank Santamour Scholarship

Deadline: September 2nd

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA) started the Frank Santamour Scholarship to award $1,250 for student members who are registered full-time in accredited horticulture, arboriculture, urban forestry, or landscape design programs. Having good standing at a two- or four-year college in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, or District of Columbia is required. Applications must include a one-page narrative in which future arborists discuss their accomplishments.

Contact

Frank Santamour Scholarship

P.O. Box 1200

Haymarket, VA 20168

(703) 894-4494

exdirector@macisa.org

Scholarship Link

10. Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship

Deadline: January 31st

Affiliated with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund presents a $5,000 scholarship yearly to honor his successful 20-year dedication to preserving the Congaree River. The renewable, four-year award helps South Carolina public or private high school seniors with a 2.5 GPA or higher who are entering an in-state higher learning institution to study natural resources disciplines, including forestry. Also apply for the $2,500 Wallace F. Pate Scholarship.

Contact

Harry Hampton Fund Scholarship

P.O. Box 2641

Columbia, SC 29202

(803) 600-1570

jim.goller@hamptonwildlifefund.org

Scholarship Link

11. Horace M. Thayer Scholarship

Deadline: June 1st

Devoted to “Cultivating Innovation,” the TREE Fund offers several great scholarships for forestry degrees, including the Horace M. Thayer Scholarship for $2,000. This one-time, merit-based program selects college sophomores who have chosen a major or minor in forestry, urban forestry, horticulture, or arboriculture. Eligible candidates must permanently live in Delaware or Pennsylvania, attend an accredited U.S. college, excel academically with a 2.5 GPA or better, and display appreciation for shade trees.

Contact

Horace M. Thayer Scholarship

552 S. Washington Street Suite 109

Naperville, IL 60540

(630) 369-8300

treefund@treefund.org

Scholarship Link

12. Jane Parr Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th

Forestry majors calling Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland home could qualify for the $2,000 Jane Parr Memorial Scholarship from the Martha Washington Garden Club in Yardley. Funding supports young horticulturists who are completing accredited education in select fields like forestry, conservation, turf management, floriculture, and landscape architecture. Applications won’t be considered without a college admission letter, transcript, personal essay, and list of community service.

Contact

Jane Parr Memorial Scholarship

1600 Edgewood Road

Yardley, PA 19067

kkuffel@verizon.net

Scholarship Link

13. John Mabry Forestry Scholarships

Deadline: June 30th

Based 60 percent on scholastic achievement, the John Mabry Forestry Scholarships grant $2,000 from the Railway Tie Association for two future wood crosstie industry leaders. It’s designed for college juniors and seniors matriculated full-time in SAF-accredited bachelor’s programs for forestry. Consideration is also given for leadership potential, career objectives, financial need, and determination. Past recipients attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of California-Berkeley, Oklahoma State University, and more.

Contact

John Mabry Forestry Scholarships

115 Commerce Drive Suite C

Fayetteville, GA 30214

(770) 460-5553

ties@rta.org

Scholarship Link

14. Kleinhans Fellowship for Forestry

Deadline: February 28th

Since 1987, the Rainforest Alliance has funded the lucrative, two-year Kleinhans Fellowship for Forestry to provide $20,000 for graduate students undertaking research projects on trees in Latin America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru. Qualified fellows will be doctoral candidates at accredited U.S. institutions who already hold a master’s degree in forestry, botany, ecology, or a similar environmental science. Research proposals must include a budget, curriculum vitae, and two recommendations.

Contact

Kleinhans Fellowship for Forestry

233 Broadway 28th Floor

New York, NY 10279

(212) 677-1900

kleinhans@ra.org

Scholarship Link

15. Mabel Mayforth Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

The Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont offers the one-year Mabel Mayforth Scholarship of $1,000 for United States citizens and permanent residents living in the “Green Mountain State” who are entering their junior, senior, or master’s year. Interested applicants must be taking 12+ graded credits in agronomy, forestry, horticulture, plant pathology, systems ecology, and land management majors at colleges listed on the U.S. Department of Education website with a cumulative GPA surpassing 3.2.

Contact

Mabel Mayforth Scholarship

973 Stock Farm Road

Randolph, VT 05060

(802) 728-6083

marybeth@eravt.com

Scholarship Link

16. NWFA Wood Studies Scholarship

Deadline: February 1st

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Education & Research Foundation bestows a $1,000 Wood Studies Scholarship upon an exemplary high school senior who will study forestry, natural resources, or environmental science. Catching the committee’s eye involves gaining admission at accredited four-year U.S. colleges, attaining a minimum “B” average, scoring at least 25 on the ACT or 1800 on the SAT, presenting an experienced resume, and submitting a 500-word essay on sustainable forestry practices.

Contact

NWFA Wood Studies Scholarship

111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd.

Chesterfield, MO 63005

(800) 422-4556

tricia.swindoll@nwfa.org

Scholarship Link

17. Pacific Forest Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: May 1st

Ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each, the Pacific Forest Foundation Scholarships are given to help at least five undergraduates afford tuition and books. Funding is reserved for students attending accredited two- or four-year U.S. or Canadian colleges for degrees in forestry, forest engineering, forest management, natural resource management, or related timber majors. PFF’s featured schools include Humboldt State, Cal Poly, Oregon State, and Vancouver Island University.

Contact

Pacific Forest Foundation Scholarships

P.O. Box 232

Battle Ground, WA 98604

(503) 383-6474

info@pacificforestfoundation.org

Scholarship Link

18. Peters Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: April 1st

Started by Herman and Katherine Peters, the Peters Foundation confers scholarships for $2,500 to $5,000 annually over four years for up to $20,000 total. Accepted applicants must be graduating high school seniors with unmet financial need who are entering accredited Christian colleges in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, or Colorado to study environmental science fields, including forestry. The Phase I application must include an official transcript, Student Aid Report, and intended course of study.

Contact

Peters Foundation Scholarships

351 West Glade Road

Palatine, IL 60067

(866) 847-2922

sleonard@petersfoundation.org

Scholarship Link

19. Robert E. Dougherty Scholarships

Deadline: March 10th

The Composite Panel Association honors its first Executive vice President (1960-1983) by awarding five Robert E. Dougherty Scholarships for $5,000 apiece. Residents of the United States, Canada, and Mexico can apply if they’re enrolled full-time in undergrad or post-grad study in forestry, natural resources, land management, wood science, or architecture. Before checks are mailed in August, finalists must present a 500-word essay about issues in North America’s wood products industry.

Contact

Robert E. Dougherty Scholarships

19465 Deerfield Avenue Suite 306

Leesburg, VA 20176

(703) 724-1128

gheroux@cpamail.org

Scholarship Link

20. Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship

Deadline: July 1st

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries began the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship to send $2,000 to undergraduate and $3,000 to graduate students who are erecting environmental careers in forestry, wildlife management, or marine science. Eligibility criteria requires living in the “Bayou State” for 12+ months, attending a public college in Louisiana full-time, holding at least 60 college credits, displaying a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and completing the FAFSA form.

Contact

Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship

P.O. Box 91202

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

(800) 259-5626

custserv@la.gov

Scholarship Link

21. SAF Student Diversity Scholarship

Deadline: September 9th

Ethnic minority students could earn the Student Diversity Scholarship for $1,000 to $2,000 from the Society of American Foresters while serving as ambassadors for the SAF National Convention. From the associate to doctoral level, any U.S. college students studying forestry, natural resources, conservation, terrestrial ecosystems, or related majors could apply. The online application and recommendation letter must be supplemented with a brief video highlighting diverse students’ interests.

Contact

SAF Student Diversity Scholarship

10100 Laureate Way

Bethesda, MD 20814

(301) 897-8720

heggip@safnet.org

Scholarship Link

22. See Through Canoe Scholarship

Deadline: November 30th

Founded in 2007, See Through Canoe, a Seminole-based manufacturer of glass bottom boats, confers a $1,000 scholarship yearly to support college students’ passion for forestry, natural resources, or environmental science. Qualified candidates must attend U.S. colleges full-time, have taken at least two forestry courses, maintain academic merit with a minimum 3.5 GPA, display strong appreciation for Mother Nature, and thoroughly answer two short essay questions.

Contact

See Through Canoe Scholarship

9846 Indian Key Trail

Seminole, FL 33776

(850) 240-0992

sales@seethroughcanoe.com

Scholarship Link

23. Truman D. Picard Scholarship

Deadline: January 18th

Named after one of the OSU Forest Engineering Institute’s first American Indian alumni, the Truman D. Picard Scholarship is awarded for $2,500 by the Intertribal Timber Council each Spring. It’s reserved for Native American and Alaskan Native students in federally recognized tribes who are pursuing bachelor’s or master’s study in natural resources fields like forestry, preferably in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Another forestry option is the Dick French Memorial Scholarship.

Contact

Truman D. Picard Scholarship

1112 NE 21st Avenue Suite 4

Portland, OR 97232

(503) 282-4296

itc1@teleport.com

Scholarship Link

24. Western Hardwood Association Scholarships

Deadline: February 28th

Established in 1955, the Western Hardwood Association (WHA) presents two $2,500 scholarships annually to support tomorrow’s sawmill owners, timber workers, pallet producers, and manufacturers. Future hardwood industry leaders must be attending an accredited two- or four-year North American college full-time with a bachelor’s or master’s major in fields like forestry, renewable materials, wood science, industrial engineering, and environmental studies. Priority is given for permanent residence in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho, or Northern California.

Contact

Western Hardwood Association Scholarships

P.O. Box 1095

Camas, WA 98607

(360) 835-1600

wha@westernhardwood.org

Scholarship Link

25. Wood Splitters Direct Scholarship

Deadline: December 1st

As a BBB-accredited logging retailer founded in 2008 in Oregon, Wood Splitters Direct offers a $500 scholarship for United States citizens aged 18 or older who are studying forestry at accredited two- or four-year colleges. Entering the competition involves typing an original 750-1,000 word essay about how the lumber industry can manage the environmental crisis striking North American forests because of the destructive mountain pine beetle.

Contact

Wood Splitters Direct Scholarship

6180 Shady Brook Drive

Central Point, OR 97502

(888) 706-2434

Scholarship Link

Affording soaring tuition prices can feel like climbing a Sequoia. Although foresters have a decent annual mean wage at $60,650, college debt can slash into future earnings. Student loan debt in America broke another record in 2016 by passing $1.31 trillion. Financial aid is a free resource for forestry majors to lower out-of-pocket costs for planting their careers’ seeds. In addition to these scholarships for forestry degrees, search for school-based programs like the Richardson Scholarship at Oregon State and William M. Carter Memorial Scholarship at Virginia Tech.

 

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