Natural Resources & Conservation Researchat University of Maryland Global Campus
Graduates earn $55,545/yr in their first year — about 61.0% above the national Natural Resources & Conservation Research average. Base-case 10-year earnings $694K; scenarios range from $614K to $720K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland Global Campus
UMGC’s strength comes from its unique student body and strategic location. Many of your classmates will be working adults, often veterans or mid-career professionals, leveraging the flexible online format to advance. This isn't a program focused on field biology in a remote forest; it's geared toward the policy, compliance, and research jobs concentrated in the nearby Washington, D.C. metro area. You’ll be positioned for well-paying roles within federal agencies like the EPA and Department of the Interior, or with the many government contractors that support them. The curriculum likely emphasizes data analysis, environmental law, and project management—skills that lead directly to stable, high-paying desk jobs in the capital region. To maximize this advantage, aggressively network with D.C.-area alumni and tailor your coursework toward federal compliance and environmental policy.
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 Global Campus'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 Global Campus stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland Global Campus
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland Global Campus, 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 Global Campus
How does University of Maryland Global Campus's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates.
How vulnerable is Natural Resources & Conservation Research to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Natural Resources & Conservation Research careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Maryland Global Campus rank so high for Natural Resources & Conservation Research?
The #2 ranking out of 256 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.