Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Natural Resources Conservation and Research
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,338/yr (37% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 5%

Program Analysis

While the core of this degree is in science, your strong earnings potential comes from the Berkeley brand and its Bay Area location. You won't just be studying ecosystems; you'll be learning advanced data analysis and policy, skills highly valued by the region's top environmental consulting firms, tech companies building sustainability tools, and major state agencies like the California Air Resources Board. Many of your classmates will be aiming for top-tier graduate programs, which creates a rigorous, research-focused environment. The high AI risk score reflects that routine environmental modeling can be automated, making your uniquely human skills—field leadership, policy negotiation, and creative problem-solving—even more critical for long-term success. Your key move: aggressively pursue internships with private consulting firms or government labs to build a professional network beyond academia before you graduate.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $783K $749K $656K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.2x 12.6x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.1x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,817
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,932
90% growth from Year 1

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley's 12% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with 33,073 students enrolled in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of California-Berkeley?
A score of 58/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Natural Resources & Conservation Research field.
Will AI replace Natural Resources & Conservation Research careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $656,186 in decade earnings vs $782,628 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Berkeley's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 256 programs nationally, University of California-Berkeley lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →