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Natural Resources · Forestry Rank #16 of 29

Forestryat Louisiana Tech University

Graduates earn $44,120/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $499K; scenarios range from $470K to $499K depending on AI disruption.

Ruston, LA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
40 AVERAGE
41
Optimistic
39
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,120
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$499K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Louisiana Tech University

At $44,120/yr, Forestry graduates from Louisiana Tech University land near the $42,702 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Forestry programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Forestry's typical career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,083 represents roughly 6 months of the $44,120 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #16 of 29 Forestry programs, Louisiana Tech University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$470K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple11.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple12.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$499K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple12.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Louisiana Tech University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Forestry graduates typically work

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.

1
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Foresters
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$70,660/yr
Moderate
3
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
4
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$59,330/yr
Low
5
Forest and conservation technicians
-3.2% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$54,310/yr
Moderate
6
Forest and conservation workers
-4.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$43,680/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Forestry

How Louisiana Tech University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
19.2x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
58
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
15.5x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
CA · Public
57
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
19.1x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
50
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
University of Idaho
ID · Public
52
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
16.1x
ROI
Also at Louisiana Tech University

Other top programs at Louisiana Tech University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Louisiana Tech University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Forestry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Forestry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Forestry at Louisiana Tech University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Forestry at Louisiana Tech University?

A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Forestry. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.