Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Stonehill College

Starting at $33,692 annually, Stonehill's Natural Resources Conservation program lands below the Massachusetts median of $36,766—placing it in just the 40th percentile among Bay State programs. That's roughly $3,000 less than typical in-state earnings, though the debt load of $25,950 stays manageable with a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio. The challenge here isn't overwhelming debt; it's that graduates aren't capturing the earning potential that other Massachusetts programs deliver, even as they're paying private college tuition rates.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the pattern suggests this program isn't differentiating itself in a competitive Massachusetts market. Compare this to UMass-Lowell's $45,215 or even Massachusetts Maritime's $50,931—those programs command substantially higher starting salaries in adjacent fields. For a selective-sounding private college (despite its 73% admission rate), Stonehill isn't delivering the earnings premium that typically justifies private school costs.

If your child is passionate about conservation and set on this field, the debt level won't sink them financially. But Massachusetts offers stronger alternatives at both public and private institutions that could mean $10,000-15,000 more annually right out of the gate—money that compounds significantly over a career.