Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus graduates in natural resources conservation start earning about $2,500 above the Minnesota median for this field, placing them ahead of three of the five top programs in the state. The $38,024 first-year salary exceeds the national median by roughly $4,000, and four years out, earnings climb 19% to $45,254. With $23,250 in debt—nearly identical to both state and national medians—graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, meaning debt equals about seven months of first-year salary.

What distinguishes this program is steady earnings growth in a field where trajectories can be inconsistent. While two Minnesota schools (Saint John's and Saint Cloud State) show stronger initial earnings, Gustavus graduates appear to be on a solid upward path. The concern here isn't value—it's the small sample size (under 30 graduates). This makes the data less reliable than programs with larger cohorts, so these figures could shift considerably year to year.

For families weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: reasonable debt, above-average starting pay for the field, and meaningful earnings growth. Just understand you're relying on limited data points. If your student is genuinely committed to conservation work and values Gustavus's liberal arts environment, the financial picture supports that choice.