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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,170/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #48 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 25%

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 $618K $604K $546K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.4x 8.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.5x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,080
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,549
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,170 at Michigan State University come in 8% above the national median of $34,545 for Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs.

At 9.4x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,080 debt-to-$37,170 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #48 out of 256 programs, Michigan State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $37,170 to $64,549 over five years (74% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 40,243 in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State 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

Compare this program → View all 256 schools offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research →

Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Other Schools

Columbia Southern University ($74,546) Bentley University ($68,600) Villanova University ($56,549) University of Maryland Global Campus ($55,545) George Washington University ($51,201) Northeastern University ($51,137) Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($50,931) American Public University System ($50,260)

Other Majors at Michigan State University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($86,192) Computer Engineering ($83,934) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($83,874) Mechanical Engineering ($80,259) Chemical Engineering ($79,023) Materials Engineering ($78,276) Engineering-Related Fields ($76,563) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,081)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Natural Resources Conservation and Research trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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 Michigan State University rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
The #48 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 →