Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Illinois' program ranks 60th percentile statewide but trails the national median by about $2,600 in first-year earnings—an unusual position for a selective flagship university. You're essentially paying flagship tuition (even in-state) for below-average initial outcomes in a field where starting salaries rarely exceed $35,000 anywhere. The good news: debt loads are manageable at $21,000, and four-year earnings jump to nearly $51,000, representing 63% growth that significantly outpaces typical conservation programs.

The real question is whether that four-year trajectory justifies the early sacrifice. Graduates earn $5,400 less than peers at Northern Illinois University initially, though they eventually catch up. With Illinois' 60th percentile state ranking, you're getting middle-of-the-pack results for a top-tier school—not disastrous, but not the standout performance many expect from UIUC. The modest debt helps, keeping the first-year ratio at a reasonable 0.67.

This works best for students with strong financial support who can weather lower entry-level earnings, or those pursuing graduate degrees where UIUC's brand matters more than immediate salary. If your child needs to service debt immediately after graduation, programs at Northern Illinois or Augustana deliver better starting positions without sacrificing long-term potential.