Why Arboriculture?

Ever found relief from a hot summer day in the shade of a big tree? Trees provide a lot of benefits, such as shade, cleaning the air, and making our towns and cities nice places to live. Arborists plant, prune, and fertilize trees to keep them healthy. When trees die or become unsafe, arborists remove them. There are lots of career opportunities for arborists since more and more people live in towns and cities. To become a qualified arborist, you need the right education and training; you need the Arboriculture program at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture!

Established in 1893, the Arboriculture program at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture is the oldest arboriculture program in the country. Many leaders in the tree care industry have been educated here. The Stockbridge School carries on a proud tradition by offering a two-year education designed to prepare you for a career in arboriculture. Classes are based on the latest arboricultural research and include many outdoor labs to give you the necessary hands-on skills to succeed. If you like working outdoors, improving the environment, using your head and your hands, a career in arboriculture is for you.

Americans annually spend $13 billion on tree care, and this amount continues to increase. Homeowners, business owners, and public officials know how important it is to hire qualified arborists to care for trees and shrubs. Arboriculture has many career opportunities. All of our graduates have multiple offers working for tree care companies and as municipal or utility arborists.

The Arboriculture program at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture has a great return on investment. Many of our graduates start their own, successful tree care companies. Now is the time to enter this dynamic industry. Peter Gerstenberg of the Tree Care Industry Association states, "The tree care industry today faces a critical shortage of trained professionals." In the Northeast, wages have increased dramatically and are above the national average.

New England Regional Student Program (NERSP)
Students who are residents of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont are eligible for reduced tuition through the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP). Get an overview of how the program works, or visit the NERSP website for more details.

Stockbridge students and alumni featured videos

Check out Outside Careers https://outsidecareers.org/ which highlights successful tree care professionals and many great aspects of the arborculture and urban forestry professions.