After earning their associate degree, our forestry students have many options, including further study, federal and state employment, or a career in the private sector.

Over the past five years (2016-2020), the Forest Technology program graduated 63 students; 41% continued their education in forestry or natural resource programs at Penn State or other universities and 59% began their careers. 

Eighty-nine percent of the graduates who entered the workforce are employed in forestry, arboriculture, utility forestry, forest industry, or forestry-related jobs, and 11% are employed in other careers. 

Forest technology graduates found employment in the following sectors:  

  • Arboriculture and utility forestry - 41% 
  • Public forestry (federal and state) - 27%  
  • Forestry related -14%  
  • Private and forest industry - 8% 
  • Other - 11%  
  • The top careers for employment are in arboriculture and utility forestry (41%). Public forestry with federal and state agencies is an important employer of graduates (27%), as is private and forest industry (8%), and forestry-related careers (14%). 

Penn State Mont Alto Forest Technology facts (based on five-year averages, 2016-2020):  

  • Total number of students in the first- and second-year classes: 29

  • Graduates per year: 13 

  • Graduate with associate degree: 59% 

  • Continue to baccalaureate degree: 41% 

  • Employed in forestry, arboriculture, or related fields: 89%