Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $31,369 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 earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 11% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $18,925 represents roughly 7 months of the $31,369 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #126 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $58,105 show a 85% jump from the $31,369 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.