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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,090/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #32 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 $580K $570K $521K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 17.2x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.1x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,696
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,726
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,289
71% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,090 track close to the $34,545 national median for Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 17.2x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $12,726 in median debt against $34,090 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #32 out of 256 programs, San Diego State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,090 to $58,289 over five years (71% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University admits 34% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 33,654 in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego 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 San Diego State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($100,221) Construction Engineering Technologies ($81,608) Computer Engineering ($76,812) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,061) Computer Science ($74,523) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($74,375) Civil Engineering ($73,584) Mechanical Engineering ($69,754)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Natural Resources Conservation and Research trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Diego State University's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?
This program scores 44/100 — 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 San Diego State University rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
The #32 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 →