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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,521/yr (-12% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #102 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	$628K	$613K	$553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.1x	10.8x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.4x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	36	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,680

Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,828

3% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,250

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,938

103% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,521 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 10.8x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,250 debt-to-$30,521 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #102 out of 256 programs, University of California-Riverside's Natural Resources Conservation and Research offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,521 to $61,938 over five years (103% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, serving a student body of 22,644 in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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 University of California-Riverside

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 University of California-Riverside's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?

This program scores 36/100 — 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 →