Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Ashford University

Ashford's Natural Resources Conservation program graduates earn $5,000 more than the national median for this field—ranking in the 88th percentile nationwide—but carry debt twice the national average at $45,254. Within California, the program sits at the 60th percentile, lagging behind UC Berkeley and several private competitors while coming close to University of Phoenix's outcomes. The debt load demands attention: at 1.08 times first-year earnings, graduates face one of the highest debt burdens in this field nationally (5th percentile), meaning only 5% of similar programs saddle students with more.

The earnings trajectory compounds the concern. Rather than growing with experience, median pay drops from $41,893 to $39,133 between year one and year four—a 7% decline that's unusual for bachelor's degree holders. This backward slide makes the already-high debt burden harder to manage over time. California's median debt for this program is just $17,278, making Ashford's $45,254 figure particularly striking.

Your child would graduate earning more than most conservation graduates nationally, but the combination of declining wages and outsized debt creates a precarious financial position. Unless Ashford offers substantial scholarships to bring that debt figure down, California families can find comparable or better outcomes at state schools with dramatically lower price tags. The high cost undermines what would otherwise be solid earning potential in a field that typically doesn't pay enough to justify near-$50,000 in student loans.