Natural Resources Conservation and Research: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 58 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$72,805 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$72,805Median year-4 earnings
$19,388Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Natural Resources Conservation and Research
How much do Natural Resources Conservation and Research master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $72,805 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $62,984 to $81,015 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 9 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$72,805Median reported earnings · year 4
$71,898Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
43thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
58With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,254
- Federal debt
- $19,861
- Reporting programs
- 7
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,513
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 6
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,044
- Federal debt
- $23,032
- Reporting programs
- 287
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,805
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 58
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $100,702
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,011
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$62,984National median$72,80575th percentile$81,015
58 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$98,458Observed year-4 earnings$53,362
American University$41,943 price · $104,878 earningsUniversity of San Francisco$41,431 price · $102,274 earningsYale University$23,777 price · $100,347 earningsColumbia University in the City of New York$21,590 price · $98,458 earningsDuke University$29,612 price · $96,411 earningsUniversity of Houston-Clear Lake$15,563 price · $94,092 earningsUniversity of Idaho$14,831 price · $92,396 earningsCalifornia State University, Fullerton$6,555 price · $91,697 earningsWebster University$27,047 price · $89,701 earningsUniversity of California, Santa Barbara$16,109 price · $88,781 earningsUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $87,988 earningsHarvard University$19,066 price · $84,831 earningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities$16,778 price · $83,567 earningsUniversity of Pennsylvania$28,699 price · $83,058 earningsUniversity of Colorado Boulder$25,346 price · $81,568 earningsThe University of Texas at Arlington$13,951 price · $81,015 earningsCollege of Charleston$18,960 price · $79,857 earningsWashington State University$14,971 price · $77,903 earningsCalifornia State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$13,171 price · $77,785 earningsAmerican Public University System$9,597 price · $77,714 earningsUniversity of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$11,900 price · $77,438 earningsUniversity of Wyoming$13,599 price · $77,033 earningsClark University$28,714 price · $75,449 earningsIndiana University-Bloomington$16,264 price · $75,331 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst$22,383 price · $74,899 earningsArizona State University Campus Immersion$14,967 price · $74,674 earningsVirginia Commonwealth University$23,433 price · $73,253 earningsMiddlebury College$31,483 price · $72,805 earningsUniversity of New Haven$34,192 price · $72,783 earningsPurdue University Global$7,770 price · $70,234 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $70,131 earningsNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $70,041 earningsColorado State University-Fort Collins$21,279 price · $69,954 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $69,636 earningsWestern Colorado University$16,425 price · $67,308 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison$17,354 price · $67,161 earningsUniversity of New Hampshire-Main Campus$23,805 price · $66,537 earningsUniversity of Missouri-Columbia$20,268 price · $66,434 earningsFlorida Gulf Coast University$12,568 price · $66,340 earningsOhio State University-Main Campus$17,339 price · $63,595 earningsUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$14,355 price · $63,098 earningsCentral Washington University$18,476 price · $62,984 earningsThe University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836 price · $61,139 earningsUniversity of South Florida$9,812 price · $60,986 earningsDuquesne University$37,730 price · $60,629 earningsSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania$19,608 price · $60,161 earningsUniversity of Illinois Springfield$9,833 price · $59,629 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point$14,559 price · $58,863 earningsMiami University-Oxford$28,384 price · $58,386 earningsUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo$11,856 price · $57,469 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Green Bay$13,369 price · $55,232 earningsUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington$20,109 price · $53,362 earningsTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi$15,225 price · $52,844 earningsOhio University-Main Campus$21,637 price · $51,822 earnings
$9,597Annual college-wide average net price$34,192
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
58 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1American University$104,8782University of San Francisco$102,2743Yale University$100,3474Columbia University in the City of New York$98,4585Duke University$96,4116University of Houston-Clear Lake$94,0927University of Idaho$92,3968California State University, Fullerton$91,6979Webster University$89,70110University of California, Santa Barbara$88,781Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,980 median wage6,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1053+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$57,780–$164,190 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 median wage89,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2041+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,520–$140,010 10th–90th percentileCompliance Officers$80,730 median wage417,070 U.S. jobs · SOC 13-1041+3.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 32.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,220–$133,720 10th–90th percentileForest and Conservation Technicians$54,560 median wage30,410 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4071-2.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$40,330–$83,630 10th–90th percentileForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,420 median wage1,520 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1043+2.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$50,100–$148,920 10th–90th percentileForesters$76,400 median wage10,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1032+2.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$50,790–$109,700 10th–90th percentileConservation Scientists$73,010 median wage25,950 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1031+5.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$47,550–$110,410 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$55,090 median wage34,670 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4042+6.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$38,170–$94,160 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $104,878 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $41,943 |
| 2 | University of San FranciscoMaster's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $102,274 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $41,431 |
| 3 | Yale UniversityMaster's Degree | New Haven, CT | $100,347 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $23,777 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $98,458 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,590 |
| 5 | Duke UniversityMaster's Degree | Durham, NC | $96,411 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $29,612 |
| 6 | University of Houston-Clear LakeMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $94,092 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,563 |
| 7 | University of IdahoMaster's Degree | Moscow, ID | $92,396 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,831 |
| 8 | California State University, FullertonMaster's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $91,697 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,555 |
| 9 | Webster UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $89,701 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $27,047 |
| 10 | University of California, Santa BarbaraMaster's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $88,781 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,109 |
| 11 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $87,988 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,138 |
| 12 | Harvard UniversityMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $84,831 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,066 |
| 13 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $83,567 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,778 |
| 14 | University of PennsylvaniaMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $83,058 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,699 |
| 15 | University of Colorado BoulderMaster's Degree | Boulder, CO | $81,568 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,346 |
| 16 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonMaster's Degree | Arlington, TX | $81,015 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,951 |
| 17 | College of CharlestonMaster's Degree | Charleston, SC | $79,857 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,960 |
| 18 | Washington State UniversityMaster's Degree | Pullman, WA | $77,903 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,971 |
| 19 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtMaster's Degree | Arcata, CA | $77,785 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,171 |
| 20 | American Public University SystemMaster's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $77,714 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,597 |
| 21 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $77,438 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $11,900 |
| 22 | University of WyomingMaster's Degree | Laramie, WY | $77,033 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,599 |
| 23 | Clark UniversityMaster's Degree | Worcester, MA | $75,449 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,714 |
| 24 | Indiana University-BloomingtonMaster's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $75,331 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,264 |
| 25 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstMaster's Degree | Amherst, MA | $74,899 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,383 |
| 26 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $74,674 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,967 |
| 27 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $74,674 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 28 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityMaster's Degree | Richmond, VA | $73,253 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $23,433 |
| 29 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyMaster's Degree | Monterey, CA | $72,805 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 30 | Middlebury CollegeMaster's Degree | Middlebury, VT | $72,805 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $31,483 |
| 31 | University of New HavenMaster's Degree | West Haven, CT | $72,783 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $34,192 |
| 32 | Purdue University GlobalMaster's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $70,234 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $7,770 |
| 33 | University of ArizonaMaster's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $70,131 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,674 |
| 34 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $70,041 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,303 |
| 35 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsMaster's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $69,954 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,279 |
| 36 | Texas A&M University-College StationMaster's Degree | College Station, TX | $69,636 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,315 |
| 37 | Western Colorado UniversityMaster's Degree | Gunnison, CO | $67,308 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,425 |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonMaster's Degree | Madison, WI | $67,161 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,354 |
| 39 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Durham, NH | $66,537 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $23,805 |
| 40 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaMaster's Degree | Columbia, MO | $66,434 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $20,268 |
| 41 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMaster's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $66,340 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,568 |
| 42 | Ohio State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Columbus, OH | $63,595 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,339 |
| 43 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster's Degree | Champaign, IL | $63,098 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,355 |
| 44 | Central Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $62,984 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,476 |
| 45 | The University of Texas at San AntonioMaster's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $61,139 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,836 |
| 46 | University of South FloridaMaster's Degree | Tampa, FL | $60,986 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,812 |
| 47 | Duquesne UniversityMaster's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $60,629 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $37,730 |
| 48 | Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaMaster's Degree | Slippery Rock, PA | $60,161 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,608 |
| 49 | University of Illinois SpringfieldMaster's Degree | Springfield, IL | $59,629 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,833 |
| 50 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointMaster's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $58,863 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,559 |
| 51 | Miami University-OxfordMaster's Degree | Oxford, OH | $58,386 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,384 |
| 52 | University of Hawaii at HiloMaster's Degree | Hilo, HI | $57,469 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $11,856 |
| 53 | University of Wisconsin-Green BayMaster's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $55,232 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,369 |
| 54 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonMaster's Degree | Wilmington, NC | $53,362 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $20,109 |
| 55 | Texas A&M University-Corpus ChristiMaster's Degree | Corpus Christi, TX | $52,844 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,225 |
| 56 | Antioch University-New EnglandMaster's Degree | Keene, NH | $52,571 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 57 | Antioch UniversityMaster's Degree | Yellow Springs, OH | $52,571 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 58 | Ohio University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Athens, OH | $51,822 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,637 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.