Natural Resources & Conservation Researchat University of Maryland-College Park
Graduates earn $41,152/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Natural Resources & Conservation Research average. Base-case 10-year earnings $597K; scenarios range from $541K to $610K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park
The strong outcomes for Maryland graduates in this field are all about location. Being just outside Washington, D.C., puts you at the epicenter of environmental policy and federal research. You're not just studying conservation; you're positioned to work for the agencies that define it, like the EPA, NOAA, and the Department of the Interior, or the many consulting firms that support them. This proximity creates a direct pipeline to stable, well-funded government and contractor roles that often require advanced analysis, buffering graduates from some of the lower-paying field-based jobs common in this major. The "high" AI risk reflects the data-heavy nature of these D.C.-area jobs. To maximize your advantage, aggressively pursue federal internships through programs like the Pathways Program while you're still a student—your security clearance and network will be invaluable upon graduation.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Maryland-College Park's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Natural Resources & Conservation Research
How University of Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, 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 →Frequently asked about Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of Maryland-College Park
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Natural Resources & Conservation Research at University of Maryland-College Park?
A score of 50/100 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 $541,022 in decade earnings vs $610,220 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Maryland-College Park's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program stand out?
Ranked #10 of 256 programs nationally, University of Maryland-College Park lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.