Home Schools University of Houston-Clear Lake Natural Resources & Conservation Research
Natural Resources · Natural Resources & Conservation Research Rank #6 of 256

Natural Resources & Conservation Researchat University of Houston-Clear Lake

Graduates earn $41,368/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Natural Resources & Conservation Research average. Base-case 10-year earnings $611K; scenarios range from $552K to $626K depending on AI disruption.

Houston, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
55
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,368
1-year post-graduation
ROI
20.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$611K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Your strong earnings potential from this program isn't about becoming a park ranger; it’s about geography. Houston is the heart of the U.S. energy and petrochemical industry, and UH-Clear Lake sits right on the vital Galveston Bay estuary. This creates a powerful local market for environmental professionals focused on industrial compliance, coastal restoration, and impact assessment. You won’t just be studying theory; you’ll be prepared for high-stakes corporate and government roles with major employers like Shell, ExxonMobil, or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The program’s reputation is built on placing graduates directly into these technical, well-compensated positions. To maximize your value, focus on gaining internship experience with an energy or environmental consulting firm in the Houston area—it will be the most important line on your resume.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$552K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple17.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$611K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple19.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$626K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple20.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Houston-Clear Lake's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates typically work

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.

1
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
3
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$80,060/yr
High
4
Compliance officers
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 33,300 openings/yr
$78,420/yr
High
5
Foresters
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$70,660/yr
Moderate
6
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Natural Resources & Conservation Research

How University of Houston-Clear Lake stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Columbia Southern University
AL · Private for-profit
67
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
31.1x
ROI
Bentley University
MA · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
39
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
65
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
25.9x
ROI
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Also at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Other top programs at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Houston-Clear Lake, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Natural Resources & Conservation Research offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Natural Resources & Conservation Research trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of Houston-Clear Lake

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of Houston-Clear Lake?

A score of 55/100 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 $551,865 in decade earnings vs $626,452 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Houston-Clear Lake's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 256 programs nationally, University of Houston-Clear Lake lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.