Natural Resources Conservation and Research at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,870/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 23.0x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $663K $644K $576K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.7x 23.0x 20.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.5x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 49 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,000
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,028
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,870 track close to the $34,545 national median for Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 23.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,000 in median debt against $33,870 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #11 out of 256 programs, California State University-Long Beach's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,870 to $68,028 over five years (101% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

With a 47% acceptance rate, California State University-Long Beach is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 34,131 students in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Long Beach →

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 and Research at Other Schools

Compare Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Other Majors at California State University-Long Beach

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Long Beach's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Natural Resources Conservation and Research to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Natural Resources Conservation and Research careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State University-Long Beach rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
The #11 ranking out of 256 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →