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Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,465/yr (-0% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #145 of 256 Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs

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	$445K	$450K	$430K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.2x	10.3x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.2x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	33	32	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,680

Out-of-state: $108,416 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,916

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

9.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

University of Southern Maine's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program produces graduates earning $34,465/yr — within striking distance of the $34,545 national average for this field.

The 10.3x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$34,465 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #145 out of 256 programs, University of Southern Maine's financial outcomes for Natural Resources Conservation and Research trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Southern Maine

A 79% acceptance rate means University of Southern Maine is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 4,245 students in Portland, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →

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 Southern Maine

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 University of Southern Maine's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program score?

This program scores 32/100 — 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 →