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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,304/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #56 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 $585K $575K $524K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.1x 9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.3x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 41 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,948
Out-of-state: $180,056 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,477
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,960
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Irvine's Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates start at $36,304/yr — above the $34,545 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Natural Resources Conservation and Research's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,477 in median debt clears quickly against $36,304 in annual earnings.

At #56 of 256 nationally, this is a top-5% Natural Resources Conservation and Research program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $59,960 show a 65% jump from the $36,304 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Irvine

Admission to University of California-Irvine is competitive, with 26% of applicants accepted, with 29,494 students enrolled in Irvine, CA.

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

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 of California-Irvine

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,715) Computer Science ($82,161) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,412) Computer Engineering ($79,812) Civil Engineering ($73,835) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,786) Mechanical Engineering ($67,633) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($67,425)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Natural Resources Conservation and Research trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Conservation and Research at University of California-Irvine?
A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Natural Resources Conservation and Research careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $524,381 in decade earnings vs $585,308 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Irvine's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program stand out?
Ranked #56 of 256 programs nationally, University of California-Irvine lands in the top 25%. 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 →