Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Natural Resources Conservation and Research
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$30,899/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (48% exposed)
Job Market
Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI
14.9x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Natural Resources & Conservation Research graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $563K | $555K | $509K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.1x | 14.9x | 13.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.0x | 4.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 38 | 38 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,144
Out-of-state: $111,412 (5.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,352
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,496
76% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington 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
Compare & Explore
Natural Resources & Conservation Research at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Washington University
Consider the Trade Route?
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 Western Washington University's Natural Resources & Conservation Research program score?
This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Natural Resources & Conservation Research. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →