Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Hardin-Simmons University

The estimated $24,273 in debt for this degree sits right at the national median for conservation programs, but the financial picture becomes more complicated when you look at what peers in Texas are actually earning. Similar programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $36,266—which places Hardin-Simmons roughly in line with what Texas A&M College Station graduates report, though notably behind University of Houston-Clear Lake's $41,368.

With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, graduates would need to dedicate about two-thirds of their first year's salary to pay off loans—manageable but not comfortable, especially in a field where conservation work often means trading higher pay for mission-driven careers. The pattern among comparable Texas programs shows relatively tight clustering in the mid-to-upper $30,000s, suggesting the field itself has natural earning constraints rather than this being a school-specific issue. That said, the best performers in the state do achieve $4,000-5,000 more annually, which compounds significantly over a career.

For a family investing in this degree, the key question is whether your student's passion for conservation work justifies starting a career at these salary levels with moderate debt. The estimates suggest outcomes similar to typical programs statewide, but since these figures come from peer schools rather than Hardin-Simmons' own graduates, you'll want to ask the department directly about job placement rates and whether their alumni are securing positions that hit these benchmarks.