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Natural Resources · Forestry Rank #18 of 29

Forestryat University of Maine

Graduates earn $43,901/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Forestry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $497K; scenarios range from $469K to $498K depending on AI disruption.

Orono, ME Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
38 AT RISK
39
Optimistic
37
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,901
1-year post-graduation
ROI
7.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$497K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
36% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Maine

First-year earnings of $43,901 track close to the $42,702 national median for Forestry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Forestry's typical career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,269 represents roughly 6 months of the $43,901 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #18 of 29 Forestry programs, University of Maine falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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
$469K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple9.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$497K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple9.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$498K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple9.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Forestry 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
Foresters
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$70,660/yr
Moderate
3
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
4
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$59,330/yr
Low
5
Forest and conservation technicians
-3.2% 10-yr growth · 3,900 openings/yr
$54,310/yr
Moderate
6
Forest and conservation workers
-4.7% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$43,680/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Forestry

How University of Maine stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
NC · Public
60
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
19.2x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
58
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
15.5x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
CA · Public
57
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
19.1x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
50
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
University of Idaho
ID · Public
52
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
16.1x
ROI
Also at University of Maine

Other top programs at University of Maine

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maine, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Forestry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Forestry at University of Maine

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Forestry at University of Maine?

A score of 38/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Forestry. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.