Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs
CIP 0302 · Natural Resources & Conservation · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
38 institutions report graduate earnings for Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $61,850 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45× and 84% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 3 of the 43 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of DenverCO · Master's | $88,331 n=115 | 95% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.46× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Master's | $85,049 n=56 | 98% 5yr | $38,924 | 0.46× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Montana State UniversityMT · Master's | $83,329 n=22 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +67% | — |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's | $83,136 n=32 | — | $29,051 | 0.35× | Above +11% | — |
| 5 | California State University-BakersfieldCA · Bachelor's | $82,315 n=18 | 84% 5yr | $13,000 | 0.16× | Above +114% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $75,022 n=51 | 75% 1yr | $22,239 | 0.30× | Above +113% | — |
| 7 | California State University-Monterey BayCA · Master's | $73,905 n=17 | — | — | — | Below -2% | — |
| 8 | University of Rhode IslandRI · Bachelor's | $72,311 n=31 | 88% 5yr | $21,750 | 0.30× | Above +72% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Master's | $71,621 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +16% | — |
| 10 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's | $71,279 n=36 | 61% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.38× | Above +61% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Master's | $68,968 n=28 | 92% 5yr | $34,500 | 0.50× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Master's | $68,968 n=28 | 92% 5yr | $34,500 | 0.50× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $68,965 n=55 | 92% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.28× | Above +79% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $68,913 n=25 | 79% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.30× | Above +97% | — |
| 15 | University of Rhode IslandRI · Master's | $68,281 n=24 | 70% 1yr | — | — | Above +3% | — |
| 16 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusND · Master's | $67,825 n=17 | — | — | — | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | California State University-Channel IslandsCA · Bachelor's | $67,558 n=38 | 54% 1yr | $19,209 | 0.28× | Above +76% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNY · Bachelor's | $65,604 n=73 | 83% 5yr | $16,773 | 0.26× | Above +72% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · Master's | $65,292 n=24 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +6% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of DenverCO · Grad cert | $64,887 n=18 | — | — | — | Below -4% | — |
| 21 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsCO · Master's | $64,235 n=68 | 74% 5yr | $30,240 | 0.47× | Below -5% | Below 2/2 |
| 22 | Everglades UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $61,850 n=27 | 77% 1yr | $40,187 | 0.65× | Above +83% | — |
| 23 | University of MiamiFL · Master's | $58,938 n=26 | 70% 1yr | $66,108 | 1.12× | Above +6% | — |
| 24 | Marist UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $58,610 n=16 | — | $26,492 | 0.45× | Above +54% | — |
| 25 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusPR · Master's | $58,329 n=24 | 85% 1yr | $17,183 | 0.29× | Above +109% | — |
| 26 | University of IdahoID · Master's | $56,153 n=46 | 88% 5yr | $21,424 | 0.38× | Above +6% | Below 1/2 |
| 27 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $54,665 n=23 | 90% 5yr | $21,657 | 0.40× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Unity Environmental UniversityME · Bachelor's | $53,934 n=72 | 96% 5yr | $26,944 | 0.50× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceNY · Bachelor's | $53,788 n=32 | 82% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.50× | Above +41% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI · Bachelor's | $53,642 n=131 | 89% 5yr | $20,495 | 0.38× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $53,620 n=40 | 88% 5yr | $25,834 | 0.48× | Above +46% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · Bachelor's | $52,941 n=37 | 39% 1yr | $17,750 | 0.34× | Above +30% | — |
| 33 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $52,730 n=132 | 47% | $25,666 | 0.49× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's | $52,730 n=132 | 47% | $25,666 | 0.49× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusND · Bachelor's | $52,570 n=20 | 83% 5yr | $25,125 | 0.48× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $52,528 n=75 | 79% | $24,812 | 0.47× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $52,242 n=33 | 61% 1yr | $23,067 | 0.44× | Above +31% | — |
| 38 | Tarleton State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $51,226 n=53 | 93% 5yr | $19,941 | 0.39× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLA · Bachelor's | $50,173 n=59 | 80% 5yr | $23,253 | 0.46× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Western Carolina UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $49,834 n=22 | 84% 5yr | $18,500 | 0.37× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $48,942 n=34 | 50% 1yr | $21,615 | 0.44× | Above +45% | — |
| 42 | The University of Tennessee-MartinTN · Bachelor's | $46,540 n=41 | 91% 5yr | $22,997 | 0.49× | Above +33% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | Auburn UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $40,076 n=16 | — | $20,500 | 0.51× | Above +16% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $71,435 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | $65,292 | 3 |
| Colorado | $64,887 | 3 |
| Oregon | $60,849 | 4 |
| Florida | $58,938 | 3 |
| New York | $58,610 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs in this dataset are University of Denver ($88,331), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($85,049), Montana State University ($83,329). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 3 of the 43 Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.