Natural Resources Conservation and Research at DePaul University

DePaul's environmental science graduates start significantly behind, earning just $26,381 in their first year—ranking in the bottom 5% nationally and well below Illinois' median of $30,644. That puts recent graduates roughly $4,000 behind typical in-state peers and nearly $8,000 behind comparable programs nationwide. With $24,750 in debt, the first-year struggle is real, though the debt load itself is fairly typical for the field.

The dramatic improvement by year four tells a different story. Earnings jump 61% to $42,412, vaulting past both state and national medians. This suggests DePaul's Chicago location and professional network may open doors that aren't immediately apparent at graduation—perhaps through connections to environmental consulting firms, government agencies, or corporate sustainability roles concentrated in the metro area. The question is whether families can weather those lean early years.

For students who can afford a slow start—either through family support or minimal additional living expenses—the trajectory looks promising. But if your child needs immediate earning power to service loans, programs at Northern Illinois ($36,409 starting) or even UIUC offer less financial stress out of the gate. DePaul appears to play a longer game that eventually pays off, but only if you can afford the ante.