Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $25,758/yr fall 25% below the $34,545 national median for Natural Resources Conservation and Research. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 16.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $22,354 debt-to-$25,758 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #183 out of 256 programs, University of North Carolina Asheville's financial outcomes for Natural Resources Conservation and Research trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $25,758 to $41,988 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.