Natural Resources Management and Policy at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,422/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (42% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (310,400 openings/yr)
ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 26 Natural Resources Management and Policy programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $477K $479K $453K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.5x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.4x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,666
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,158
15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,422/yr, edging above the $37,130 national average for Natural Resources Management and Policy — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Natural Resources Management and Policy's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,666 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,422 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #17 of 26 Natural Resources Management and Policy programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,158 are relatively flat compared to the $39,422 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

With a 68% acceptance rate, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,054 students in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 19 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources Management and Policy at Other Schools

Other Majors at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources Management and Policy at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Natural Resources Management and Policy. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Natural Resources Management and Policy careers?
With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $452,533 in decade earnings vs $477,341 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →