COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy bachelor's degree at Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · 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.
$6,351 below the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 44.1% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −79% · 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$131,660
$8,000Annual price−$163,660
$13,000Current college-wide context−$183,660
$16,000Annual price−$195,660
$24,000Annual price−$227,660
$32,000Annual price−$259,660
$40,000Annual price−$291,660
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,203Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$49,834$17,631 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.
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$13,315
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$21,962
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$49,834
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$233/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$13,315Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE60.3%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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
5.6% 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$4,153
Estimated loan payment$233
23borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$49,834 vs. $56,185
$6,351 below the national median for the same field and credential.
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$108,430 median wageNC estimate · 90 jobs · 25-1043$80,130–$140,320 middle 50% of NC wages+2.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeConservation Scientists$64,460 median wageNC estimate · 540 jobs · 19-1031$50,300–$81,920 middle 50% of NC wages+5.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCompliance Officers$78,500 median wageNC estimate · 11,320 jobs · 13-1041$59,600–$103,810 middle 50% of NC wages+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 32,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeManagers, All Other$141,160 median wageNC estimate · 21,830 jobs · 11-9199$104,050–$182,390 middle 50% of NC wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomists$136,150 median wageNC estimate · 290 jobs · 19-3011$79,790–$172,860 middle 50% of NC wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$114,200 median wageNC estimate · 490 jobs · 25-1063$77,750–$147,090 middle 50% of NC wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$91,100 median wageNC estimate · 4,820 jobs · 33-1012$73,950–$105,110 middle 50% of NC wages+3.3% projected U.S. growth · 10,600 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$81,420 median wageNC estimate · 1,770 jobs · 19-3099$73,920–$104,520 middle 50% of NC wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 2,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$77,990 median wageNC estimate · 1,200 jobs · 11-9072$60,730–$100,270 middle 50% of NC wages+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 5,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForesters$77,870 median wageNC estimate · 10,430 jobs · 19-1032$48,180–$77,870 middle 50% of NC wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$63,710 median wageNC estimate · 2,930 jobs · 19-4061$52,130–$67,680 middle 50% of NC wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDetectives and Criminal Investigators$63,280 median wageNC estimate · 3,360 jobs · 33-3021$57,040–$80,330 middle 50% of NC wages+0.2% projected U.S. growth · 7,800 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.
Public Administration
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Construction
Educational Services
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.
California State University, Channel Islands
$17,724 higher earnings · $2,753 less debt · $3,466 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $67,558
- Debt
- $19,209
- Annual net price
- $9,849
California State University, Bakersfield
$32,481 higher earnings · $7,663 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $82,315
- Debt
- Not available
- Annual net price
- $5,652
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
$19,131 higher earnings · $1,962 less debt
- Earnings
- $68,965
- Debt
- $20,000
- Annual net price
- $16,665
Michigan State University
$19,079 higher earnings · $207 less debt
- Earnings
- $68,913
- Debt
- $21,755
- Annual net price
- $19,680
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
31 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →