Location: Purcellville, VA•In-State Tuition: $28,425•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1351
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,391
Est. from VA median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,273
Est. from national median (80 programs)

Analysis

Patrick Henry's Natural Resources Conservation program sits right at Virginia's median for the field, with peer programs in the state suggesting first-year earnings around $39,391—notably above the $33,988 national median. That $24,273 in estimated debt translates to a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary. For context, this debt burden is typical for bachelor's programs in conservation nationally.

What deserves closer attention is the institution's student body composition: zero percent of students receive Pell grants, indicating an exclusively affluent population despite an 82% admission rate. This suggests families are already paying substantial amounts out-of-pocket even before factoring in loans. The school's high SAT average (1351) shows it attracts academically capable students, but conservation careers—even for top performers—tend to start modestly across the board. Virginia Tech's program, with similar early earnings, offers a useful comparison point from a much larger, well-established institution.

The practical question is whether Patrick Henry's particular educational approach justifies its costs when larger state programs produce comparable outcomes. With such limited graduate data available, families should verify actual placement rates and career paths before assuming this program will match the Virginia median.

Where Patrick Henry College Stands

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

Patrick Henry College (estimated ±10%)Other natural resources conservation and research programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Virginia

Natural Resources Conservation and Research bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Virginia (21 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Patrick Henry CollegePurcellville$28,425$39,391*—$24,273*—
George Mason UniversityFairfax$13,815$43,038*$47,283$23,021*0.53
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville$20,986$41,790*$47,457$13,952*0.33
Roanoke CollegeSalem$36,774$39,588*—$27,000*0.68
Longwood UniversityFarmville$15,200$39,391*——*—
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg$15,478$39,361*$56,718$26,408*0.67
National Median—$33,988*—$23,010*0.68
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Patrick Henry College, approximately 0% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in VA. Actual outcomes may vary.