Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Bentley University

Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Natural Resources Conservation and Research
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $68,600/yr (99% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #47 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

Bentley's strength as a business school completely reframes what a "conservation" degree means here. You won't be training for a career as a park ranger or field scientist. Instead, this program likely prepares you for the corporate side of environmentalism: think ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) analysis, sustainability consulting, and regulatory compliance. The high earnings reflect access to Boston's robust finance and consulting sectors, where firms like Deloitte or PwC hire specialists to help clients navigate complex environmental regulations and investment standards. Your peers will be business majors, and you'll graduate with a powerful network geared toward corporate roles, not traditional fieldwork. Your key action item: Investigate the program's required internships. Confirm they place students in corporate sustainability or environmental consulting roles, as that's where the financial value of this unique degree truly lies.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $637K $621K $559K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$232,600
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$155,148
33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

About Bentley University

With a 48% acceptance rate, Bentley University is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 4,288 in Waltham, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $155,148 — 33% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bentley University →

Top Career Paths

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710/yr
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health $80,060/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Bentley University?
A score of 42/100 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 $559,188 in decade earnings vs $637,416 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Bentley University's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program stand out?
Ranked #47 of 256 programs nationally, Bentley University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →