Forestryat Purdue University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $43,029/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $493K; scenarios range from $465K to $493K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Purdue University
First-year earnings of $43,029 track close to the $42,702 national median for Forestry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 12.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 6% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Forestry career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
A #17 ranking among 29 Forestry programs places Purdue University-Main Campus in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Purdue University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Forestry
How Purdue University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Purdue University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Purdue 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 →Frequently asked about Forestry at Purdue University
What does a 40/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Forestry at Purdue University-Main Campus?
At 40/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Forestry programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.