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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

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)

Ranked #89 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs Top 50%

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	$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)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,352

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,496

76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Washington University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program produces graduates earning $30,899/yr — within striking distance of the $34,545 national average for this field.

The 14.9x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,352 debt-to-$30,899 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #89 out of 256 programs, Western Washington University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,899 to $54,496 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources Conservation and 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 and Research program score?

This program scores 38/100 — 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →