Location: Saint Augustine, FL•In-State Tuition: $26,610•Admission Rate: 78%•Avg SAT: 1099
Median Earnings (1yr)
$28,175
18th percentile
40th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$24,427
6% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.87 ManageableSample: 38 graduates

Analysis

Flagler's Natural Resources Conservation program starts graduates at $28,175—roughly $6,000 below the state median and nearly $10,000 behind top Florida programs like University of West Florida. While the debt load of $24,427 isn't catastrophic, it's actually higher than the state median for this field, creating an unfavorable squeeze where graduates carry more debt but earn less than their in-state peers.

The 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs tells the story: this sits squarely in the bottom half of options within the state. For context, UF graduates in this field earn 22% more in their first year, while UWF graduates earn 32% more—a difference of thousands of dollars annually when managing loan payments. The 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary, which becomes challenging when that salary is already below $30,000.

For Florida families, this program represents a weaker value compared to other in-state alternatives. If your child is set on environmental work at a smaller institution, understand they'll likely start behind peers from larger state universities—both in earnings and debt burden. The acceptance rate of 78% suggests admission flexibility, but that accessibility doesn't translate to competitive career outcomes in this field.

Where Flagler College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all natural resources conservation and research bachelors's programs nationally

Flagler CollegeOther natural resources conservation and research programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Flagler College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Flagler College earns $28k — 18th percentile among natural resources conservation and research bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Natural Resources Conservation and Research bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Flagler CollegeSaint Augustine$26,610$28,175—$24,4270.87
University of West FloridaPensacola$6,360$37,214$39,209——
University of South FloridaTampa$6,410$36,048$42,843$18,8400.52
Florida International UniversityMiami$6,565$36,007$38,957——
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers$6,118$34,875$34,866$19,2150.55
University of FloridaGainesville$6,381$34,454$50,192$20,5000.59
National Median—$33,988—$23,0100.68

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with natural resources conservation and research graduates

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Climate Change Policy Analysts

Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Restoration Planners

Collaborate with field and biology staff to oversee the implementation of restoration projects and to develop new products. Process and synthesize complex scientific data into practical strategies for restoration, monitoring or management.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Ecologists

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Flagler College, approximately 28% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 38 graduates with reported earnings and 36 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.