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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,097/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)

ROI 10.2x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #154 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs

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	$518K	$515K	$480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.2x	10.2x	9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.5x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,608

Out-of-state: $115,600 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,688

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,125

8.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,869

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,097/yr, roughly in line with the $34,545 national median for Natural Resources Conservation and Research. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.2x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,125 debt-to-$31,097 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #154 out of 256 programs, Northern Arizona University's financial outcomes for Natural Resources Conservation and Research trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,097 to $48,869 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 23,041 students in Flagstaff, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Arizona 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 and Research at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northern Arizona University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Northern Arizona University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?

This program scores 31/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →