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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,835/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 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 $620K $605K $548K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.9x 14.5x 13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.2x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 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)
$41,632
Out-of-state: $115,992 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,944
-78% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,851
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,835 track close to the $34,545 national median for Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 14.5x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,000 debt-to-$31,835 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #49 out of 256 programs, University at Albany's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,835 to $61,851 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University at Albany

With a 70% acceptance rate, University at Albany is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 12,100 in Albany, NY. With 42% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University at Albany →

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 University at Albany

Applied Mathematics ($65,604) Accounting and Related Services ($55,124) Mathematics and Statistics, Other ($51,917) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,759) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,605) Chemistry ($48,276) Mathematics ($45,744) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($45,637)

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 University at Albany'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 University at Albany rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
The #49 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 →