1,160 colleges are offering Natural Resources and Conservation program through certificate, undergraduate, and graduate levels. For bachelor's degree, 828 schools have the Natural Resources and Conservation program and 256 schools are offering the program in graduate levels. In 2023, a total of 31,269 students completed the program and earned a degree or certificate in the area. By degree level, 1,420 students earned undergraduate certificate, 1,686 students earned associate's, 21,703 students earned bachelor's, and 5,738 students earned master's or doctoral degrees.
- 1 March 2024 (Updated)
Expected Earning after Completing Natural Resources and Conservation Program is $39,792
Colleges Offering Natural Resources and Conservation and Number of Degree Earners
The 2024 average tuition of schools that have Natural Resources and Conservation program is $10,274 for state residents and $34,764 for out-of-state students. For graduate Natural Resources and Conservation programs, the average tuition is $11,946 for state residents and $26,144 for out-of-state students.
The following table summarizes the Natural Resources and Conservation schools by offered degree and number of completers.
| Degree Level | Schools Offered | Completers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Men | Women | ||
| Associate | 310 | 1,686 | 990 | 696 |
| Bachelor | 828 | 21,703 | 9,076 | 12,627 |
| Master | 256 | 5,080 | 1,864 | 3,216 |
| Doctoral | ||||
| Doctoral (Research) | 107 | 658 | 304 | 354 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | ||||
| 2-Years Certificate | 68 | 188 | 120 | 68 |
| 2-4 Years Certificate | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Certificates of less than 12 weeks | 11 | 26 | 11 | 15 |
| Certificates of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 year | 131 | 1,205 | 628 | 577 |
| Graduate Certificate | ||||
| Post-Bachelor Certificate | 91 | 722 | 303 | 419 |
| Post-Master Certificate | 3 | 11 | 4 | 7 |
Data Source: IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education
Average Salary by Program in Natural Resources and Conservation Study
The average salary after completing bachelor's Natural Resources and Conservation is $39,792. The salary is based on the median annual earnings of students three years after graduation. The earning with Natural Resources and Conservation Master's degree is $56,259.
The average loan debt of the completers in Natural Resources and Conservation programs is $22,009
and the estimated monthly loan payment is $220. The debt amount is based only on federal loan debt originated at the school awarding the credential, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 3.73% interest rate.
For Natural Resources and Conservation program, the graduates from San Jose State University have the highest earning of $66,730 (Bachelor's degree). Students from California State University-Bakersfield and University of California-Berkeley follow it with average earning $63,823 and $61,273 respectively.
| Tuition & Fees | Annual Salary | Monthly Earning | Loan Debt | Monthly Loan Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University | $19,872 | $66,730 | $5,561 | - | - |
| California State University-Bakersfield | $19,576 | $63,823 | $5,319 | - | - |
| University of California-Berkeley | $45,627 | $61,273 | $5,106 | $12,500 | $125 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | $12,336 | $60,431 | $5,036 | $23,250 | $232 |
| Columbia Southern University | $5,808 | $59,697 | $4,975 | $19,903 | $199 |
Data Source: College Scorecard
Average Earning and Debt by Natural Resources and Conservation Sub Major Programs
In Natural Resources and Conservation area, the graduates who completing Forestry program have the highest salary of $45,680 and Natural Resources Management and Policy program have the second highest salary of $42,181 in average.
Associate's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program shows the highest earning ($41,299) and Forestry program follows with $40,496 average salary.
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Master's program has $56,846 average salary and Natural Resources Management and Policy program completers earn $56,162 yearly.
The next table shows the average earning and debt after completing Natural Resources and Conservation area by major program and degree. The average annual earning is calculated based on the earning of students three years after graduation.
- Only data from students who received federal financial aid are included in the calculation.
- The actual earning may differ from the average value.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Earning | Loan Debt | Monthly Loan Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Program Details | ||||
| Associate | $41,299 | $3,442 | $9,458 | $95 |
| Bachelor's | $40,199 | $3,350 | $21,488 | $215 |
| Master's | $56,846 | $4,737 | $45,956 | $517 |
| Doctoral | $80,666 | $6,722 | - | - |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy Program Details | ||||
| Certificate | $44,321 | $3,693 | - | - |
| Associate | $29,338 | $2,445 | $10,800 | $108 |
| Bachelor's | $42,181 | $3,515 | $24,470 | $245 |
| Master's | $56,162 | $4,680 | $33,472 | $376 |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management Program Details | ||||
| Bachelor's | $33,232 | $2,769 | $24,120 | $241 |
| Forestry Program Details | ||||
| Associate | $40,496 | $3,375 | $11,967 | $120 |
| Bachelor's | $45,680 | $3,807 | $21,646 | $216 |
| Master's | $52,705 | $4,392 | - | - |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Program Details | ||||
| Associate | $33,349 | $2,779 | $12,000 | $120 |
| Bachelor's | $33,163 | $2,764 | $22,519 | $225 |
| Master's | $52,364 | $4,364 | - | - |
Data Source: College Scorecard
