Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Colorado College

The $17,372 first-year salary reported here—less than half the national median for natural resources graduates—raises immediate red flags, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means this figure might not represent the typical outcome. Even accounting for measurement uncertainty, Colorado College's program ranks in just the 10th percentile statewide, trailing far behind Colorado State ($34,346), CU Boulder ($30,747), and even regional options like Western Colorado University. The $15,000 debt load is relatively modest, but when your earnings are this low, even manageable debt becomes problematic.

The comparison to other Colorado programs is particularly telling. Metropolitan State delivers graduates earning $44,236—more than 2.5 times what this data suggests for Colorado College grads. Given that Colorado College is highly selective (20% admission rate, 1445 SAT) and draws predominantly affluent students (only 14% receive Pell grants), these earnings outcomes seem anomalous. It's possible the data captures graduates in temporary field positions, gap-year programs, or graduate school stipends rather than career employment.

Before dismissing this program entirely, request more recent data or contact the career services office directly. If these numbers reflect actual career outcomes rather than statistical noise, you're looking at paying a premium price for below-average results in a state with several stronger alternatives. The small sample size offers some hope that this isn't the full story, but without better data, it's impossible to recommend this program over Colorado State or even less selective in-state options.