Forestry at Clemson University

Clemson's forestry graduates face an unusual earnings pattern that demands careful consideration. First-year earnings of $53,850 beat the national median by 25%, but by year four, salaries drop to $43,033—below where most forestry grads start. With only two programs in South Carolina and Clemson representing the state median, it's difficult to gauge competitive positioning within the state, but nationally this program sits in the 95th percentile for initial outcomes.

The $24,700 debt load is relatively modest and manageable against that first-year salary, creating a favorable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. The real question is what's driving that 20% earnings decline. This could reflect graduates shifting from higher-paying private sector positions to lower-paying but more mission-aligned public sector or conservation roles, or it might indicate a mismatch between initial job placement and long-term career trajectories in forestry. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reasonably reliable, though not definitive.

For parents, the calculus hinges on career expectations. If your student plans to work in timber management or private consulting where those early earnings continue, this looks solid. If they're likely to migrate toward park service or conservation work—noble careers with lower pay—factor in that four-year number instead. The debt burden won't sink them either way, but the earnings volatility makes this harder to evaluate than most forestry programs.