Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's fisheries program graduates earn slightly below the national median for this field—about $2,000 less in their first year—but that tells only part of the story. The real concern is the debt load: at $20,500, it sits in the 95th percentile nationally, meaning nearly all other fisheries programs nationwide leave students with less debt. The program's one advantage is that as Indiana's only fisheries option, graduates avoid competing with alumni from other in-state programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 means graduates owe roughly eight months of their annual salary, which isn't catastrophic but leaves little room for error given the modest starting salary of $31,317. That first-year income barely nudges upward over four years, suggesting the field offers limited salary progression regardless of where you study. With only 23 schools nationally offering this specialized degree, opportunities may be geographically constrained.

For families considering this program: if your child is passionate about fisheries science and committed to the field's lifestyle tradeoffs, Purdue offers solid training at a respected institution. But the financial fundamentals—low starting pay combined with higher-than-average debt—mean this works best as a calling rather than a financial investment. Students should enter with realistic salary expectations and ideally minimize borrowing through scholarships, work-study, or family support.