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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,361/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #30 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $616K $602K $545K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.9x 9.7x 8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.1x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,912
Out-of-state: $146,776 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,160
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,816
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,308
66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,361 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University come in 14% above the national median of $34,545 for Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs.

At 9.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,816 debt-to-$39,361 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #30 out of 256 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $39,361 to $65,308 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 30,435 students in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

Top Career Paths

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710/yr
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health $80,060/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 256 schools offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research →

Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Other Schools

Columbia Southern University ($74,546) Bentley University ($68,600) Villanova University ($56,549) University of Maryland Global Campus ($55,545) George Washington University ($51,201) Northeastern University ($51,137) Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($50,931) American Public University System ($50,260)

Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($96,432) Computer Engineering ($86,636) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($83,364) Construction Engineering ($82,627) Industrial Engineering ($82,437) Chemical Engineering ($82,382) Applied Mathematics ($82,275) Engineering Mechanics ($81,735)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Natural Resources Conservation and Research trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?
This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Natural Resources Conservation and Research. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Natural Resources Conservation and Research to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Natural Resources Conservation and 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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
The #30 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →