Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Kent State University at Stark

Kent State Stark's natural resources program lands squarely in the middle nationally but trails within Ohio, where it ranks in just the 40th percentile for earnings. That's notable because your child will be competing for jobs against graduates from Ohio State (where grads earn $39,545) and other in-state programs that deliver meaningfully higher returns. At $34,020 in year one, graduates start about $700 below the Ohio median for this field.

The debt picture offers some relief—at $21,556, it's below both state and national benchmarks, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. Graduates see modest income growth to $36,622 by year four, suggesting careers that steadily build rather than stall out. However, this remains in the lower tier of Ohio programs, even as earnings climb.

For families concerned about cost, this program won't bury students in debt. But if your child has competitive grades and could access Ohio State or other top-tier state programs, the earnings gap—potentially $5,000+ annually—compounds significantly over a career. This works as an affordable entry point to conservation careers, but may not maximize earning potential within Ohio's competitive landscape.