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Wilderness guide education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a wilderness guide. Wilderness guides usually study psychology, environmental science, or kinesiology. 79% of wilderness guides hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 419 real wilderness guide resumes to see exactly what wilderness guide education sections show.
The most common colleges for wilderness guides are the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin Colleges.
There are also many online wilderness guide courses to help get the education required to be a wilderness guide.
What education do you need to become a wilderness guide?
What degree do you need to be a wilderness guide?
- Bachelor's, 79%
- Master's, 10%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a wilderness guide?
- Psychology, 16%
- Kinesiology, 8%
- Education, 6%
- Other Majors, 61%
Most common colleges for wilderness guides
| Wilderness guide common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Colleges | 10.53% |
| University of New Hampshire | 7.02% |
| Colby-Sawyer College | 7.02% |
| Brigham Young University | 5.26% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.26% |
Best majors for wilderness guides
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 16.5% |
| 2 | Environmental Science | 8.9% |
| 3 | Kinesiology | 8.2% |
| 4 | Education | 6.3% |
| 5 | Biology | 5.7% |
Best colleges for wilderness guides
The best colleges for wilderness guides are Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Northwestern University.
A wilderness guide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for wilderness guides. 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 wilderness guides.
1. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
2. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
4. Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$52,588
Enrollment
1,544
5. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
20 best online courses for wilderness guides
Advertising disclosure
1. Wilderness First Aid
Wilderness First Aid is for anyone who wants to improve their safety in nature. In this specialization, you will find basic emergency medical care to help stabilize or evacuate injured or ill people in wilderness settings. The courses include an introduction to wilderness first aid, medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and environmental emergencies. Join us as we learn from real-life scenarios and stories from wilderness experts and medical professionals...
2. Wilderness First Aid - Introduction
In this course, students will learn the basics of wilderness medicine, including how it is a unique clinical environment, and concepts of scene safety. They will learn how to perform a basic assessment of a patient, including a physical exam, gather history data using the SAMPLE approach, and how to evaluate a patient for a potential spinal cord injury...
3. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
4. NEBOSH health and safety Management System
It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...
5. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
6. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
7. Conflict Resolution in Leadership and Talent Management
You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with your team members/reports...
8. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
9. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
10. Conflict Resolution and De-Escalation for Upset Customers
You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with upset clients and customers...
11. Health & Safety Risk Assessment
Learn how to conduct a complete risk assessment in your workplace...
12. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
13. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.
How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...
14. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings
A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
15. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
16. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2
A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
17. Customer Service Training: Dealing with Difficult Customers
Learn how to deal with difficult customers Master customer relationship management Gain conflict management skills...
18. Anger Management & Conflict Resolution Program - (4 hours)
How to manage anger and ensure it does not explode into rage. Enhance your life by building quality relationships...
19. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
20. Conflict Management: The complete guide
Conflict management: effective techniques to better manage conflicts, negotiate, influence and solve problems...
Top 10 most affordable universities for wilderness guides
The most affordable schools for wilderness guides are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for wilderness guides 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 wilderness guides.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
8. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Cost of attendance
24,514
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for wilderness guides
The hardest universities for wilderness guides to get into are Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for wilderness guides 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 wilderness guides 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. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
9. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
10. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for wilderness guides
The easiest schools for wilderness guides to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, bluefield college, and life university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a wilderness guide 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 wilderness guides.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
3. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
5. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
6. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
7. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
8. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
9. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
Average wilderness guide salary by education level
| Wilderness guide education level | Wilderness guide salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $66,537 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $86,143 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $90,692 |
Wilderness guide education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025