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Park interpretive specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a park interpretive specialist. Park interpretive specialists usually study environmental science, biology, or history. 78% of park interpretive specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 359 real park interpretive specialist resumes to see exactly what park interpretive specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for park interpretive specialists are the Humboldt State University and the Humboldt State University.

There are also many online park interpretive specialist courses to help get the education required to be a park interpretive specialist.

What education do you need to become a park interpretive specialist?

What degree do you need to be a park interpretive specialist?

The most common degree for park interpretive specialists is bachelor's degree, with 78% of park interpretive specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 11% and associate degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 78%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a park interpretive specialist?

You should major in environmental science to become a park interpretive specialist. 18% of park interpretive specialists major in environmental science. Other common majors for a park interpretive specialist include biology and history.

Most common colleges for park interpretive specialists

Park interpretive specialists often get their degrees at Humboldt State University, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin Colleges. Here are the most common colleges for park interpretive specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Park interpretive specialist common collegePercentages
Humboldt State University7.55%
Purdue University7.55%
University of Wisconsin Colleges5.66%
Radford University5.66%
Henderson State University5.66%

Best majors for park interpretive specialists

RankMajorPercentages
1Environmental Science18.3%
2Biology17.1%
3History8.6%
4Anthropology6.3%
5Geology4.6%

Best colleges for park interpretive specialists

The best colleges for park interpretive specialists are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

A park interpretive specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for park interpretive specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become park interpretive specialists.

1. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

8. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

9. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for park interpretive specialists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for park interpretive specialists

The most affordable schools for park interpretive specialists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for park interpretive specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for park interpretive specialists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for park interpretive specialists

The hardest universities for park interpretive specialists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

Some great schools for park interpretive specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for park interpretive specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

9. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,448

10. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for park interpretive specialists

The easiest schools for park interpretive specialists to get into are Curry College, wayland baptist university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a park interpretive specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for park interpretive specialists.

1. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

9. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

10. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

Average park interpretive specialist salary by education level

Park interpretive specialists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $50,311 annually. With a Master's degree, park interpretive specialists earn a median annual income of $42,362 compared to $37,990 for park interpretive specialists with an Bachelor's degree.
Park interpretive specialist education levelPark interpretive specialist salary
Master's Degree$42,362
Bachelor's Degree$37,990
Doctorate Degree$50,311

Park interpretive specialist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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