Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $34,347 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.
A 7.0x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Natural Resources Conservation and Research career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $14,000 in median debt against $34,347 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #143 ranking among 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs places Upper Iowa University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $34,347-to-$52,875 earnings arc over five years reflects a 54% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.