Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Stockton University

Stockton's Natural Resources Conservation program lands graduates below what they'd earn at most other New Jersey schools—$39,765 four years out puts them roughly $3,000 behind the state median and well behind what Rutgers grads in the same field earn ($43,223). For a program at a relatively accessible school (88% admission rate), these outcomes raise questions about career placement support or regional job market access.

The debt picture is actually reasonable. At $23,281, graduates carry slightly less than the state average for this major, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, most will manage payments without significant strain. The 20% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates find their footing over time, though starting at just $33,224 means those early years will be financially tight.

Here's the core issue: twelve New Jersey schools offer this program, and Stockton ranks in the 40th percentile among them. When other in-state options consistently produce stronger outcomes, families should ask pointed questions about what differentiates Stockton's approach—internship networks, industry partnerships, career services. The debt is manageable, but if your child can access one of the higher-performing programs within New Jersey's public system, that's likely the smarter play. This isn't a disaster, but it's also not where you want to land when better alternatives exist at comparable admission standards.