Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $39,178 track close to the $42,702 national median for Forestry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Forestry's typical career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $29,362 represents roughly 9 months of the $39,178 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #27 of 29 Forestry programs, Michigan State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.