Natural Resources Conservation and Research at St. John's University-New York

St. John's natural resources program ranks in the bottom quarter nationally for first-year earnings, and its graduates earn roughly $4,500 less than the typical program in New York State. However, the earnings trajectory tells a more optimistic story: graduates see a 57% salary jump by year four, reaching $46,181—significantly above both state and national medians at that point. Still, with a small sample size (under 30 graduates), these figures could swing considerably with just a few data points changing.

The $26,000 debt load sits slightly above typical borrowing for this field, though the 0.88 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face less than a year's income in debt—generally manageable. The real question is whether your child can weather that difficult first year when earnings average less than $30,000 in expensive New York. Elite programs like Cornell and Colgate nearly double St. John's first-year outcomes, though they come with higher price tags and more selective admissions.

For families drawn to St. John's 80% acceptance rate and seeking a path into environmental work, this program eventually delivers competitive mid-career earnings. But if your student needs strong income immediately after graduation—whether to repay loans quickly or support themselves independently—the low starting salary could create real hardship during those early years.