Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Pitzer College

Pitzer College's environmental studies graduates start at just $21,570—roughly $15,000 below what California peers earn from the same degree, landing in the bottom 10th percentile statewide. When nearby Occidental grads from this program earn $49,529 and UC Berkeley grads earn $47,338, something isn't adding up at a selective liberal arts college charging premium tuition.

The debt load of $17,750 looks manageable in isolation, but paired with first-year earnings barely above poverty level, you're looking at nearly a year's salary in loans for a credential that appears dramatically underperforming. Other California schools—even less selective ones—are producing graduates who earn double what Pitzer's program delivers initially. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year, but they're still concerning enough to warrant serious questions.

Before committing to this program at a 17% admission rate school, you need direct answers from Pitzer about why their graduates lag so far behind state and national peers. Are students pursuing unpaid fellowships or grad school immediately? Is this measuring only those who stay in nonprofit work? Without clarity on what's driving these numbers, it's hard to justify the investment when stronger-performing California options clearly exist.