Natural Resources & Conservation Researchat Bates College
Graduates earn $38,437/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Natural Resources & Conservation Research average. Base-case 10-year earnings $547K; scenarios range from $504K to $554K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Bates College
A Bates education in this field is less about immediate job training and more about building a foundation for a long-term, influential career. The earnings data reflects that many graduates pursue advanced degrees; your path might lead through a master's program or Ph.D. before you land a high-impact role as a researcher, policy advisor, or senior scientist. Being in Maine provides a natural laboratory for fieldwork with organizations like the Maine Department of Environmental Protection or local conservation trusts. This hands-on experience, combined with Bates's rigorous analytical training, is what sets you apart. To maximize your investment, focus on building a strong research portfolio as an undergraduate. Seek out faculty-led projects and summer internships to create the track record you'll need for top-tier graduate programs or competitive fellowships, which are the true gateways to leadership in this field.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bates College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Natural Resources & Conservation Research
How Bates College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Bates College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bates College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Natural Resources & Conservation Research offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Natural Resources & Conservation Research trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Bates College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Bates College?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Natural Resources & Conservation Research. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Natural Resources & Conservation Research careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $503,529 in decade earnings vs $554,091 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Bates College a hidden gem for Natural Resources & Conservation Research?
After financial aid, the average student pays $122,812 over four years — 52% below the $253,912 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.