Program Analysis
Graduates earn $38,024/yr, edging above the $34,545 national average for Natural Resources Conservation and Research — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Natural Resources Conservation and Research's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,024 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #181 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs, Gustavus Adolphus College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $59,016 show a 55% jump from the $38,024 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.