DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
← Program directory
COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Forestry bachelor's degree at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$6,134 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
36.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−70% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$52,650 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+15%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$39,337 → $45,342
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
25Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
32Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
41Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

62Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
20Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
33Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
35Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$52,650$16,568 above the preliminary benchmark

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$18,589

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$19,437

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,650

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$206/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →
AVERAGE NET PRICE$18,589Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,018Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE88.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE75.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$39,337Year 1
$52,650Year 4
$45,342Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,388
Estimated loan payment$206
41borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,650 vs. $58,784

$6,134 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,420 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,520 jobs · 25-1043+2.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeForesters$83,000 median wageIA estimate · 50 jobs · 19-1032$68,470–$94,800 middle 50% of IA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForest and Conservation Technicians$52,000 median wageIA estimate · 380 jobs · 19-4071$42,350–$61,820 middle 50% of IA wages-2.1% projected U.S. growth · 3,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeConservation Scientists$69,240 median wageIA estimate · 610 jobs · 19-1031$60,070–$81,730 middle 50% of IA wages+5.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForest and Conservation Workers$33,600 median wageIA estimate · 40 jobs · 45-4011$30,110–$66,100 middle 50% of IA wages-1.5% projected U.S. growth · 2,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentFirst-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,150 median wageIA estimate · 360 jobs · 45-1011$47,350–$72,380 middle 50% of IA wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 7,200 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

01

Public Administration

about 24.9%
02

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 20.3%
03

Educational Services

about 9.0%
04

Manufacturing

about 7.5%
05

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

about 5.7%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

$24,769 higher earnings · $2,437 less debt · $1,924 lower annual net price

Earnings
$77,419
Debt
$17,000
Annual net price
$16,665
View outcomes →
Moscow, ID

University of Idaho

$11,742 higher earnings · $1,437 less debt · $3,758 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,392
Debt
$18,000
Annual net price
$14,831
View outcomes →
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

$33,707 higher earnings · $1,286 lower annual net price

Earnings
$86,357
Debt
$24,749
Annual net price
$17,303
View outcomes →
Arcata, CA

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

$27,199 higher earnings · $5,418 lower annual net price

Earnings
$79,849
Debt
$22,173
Annual net price
$13,171
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

32 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →