Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of Kansas

The University of Kansas's Natural Resources Conservation program presents an uncomfortable reality: despite reasonable debt levels, graduates earn notably less than their Kansas peers. First-year earnings of $34,374 fall into the 40th percentile statewide—meaning 60% of similar programs in Kansas deliver better outcomes. Kansas State University, the obvious in-state alternative, produces graduates earning $44,486, a full $10,000 more annually.

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $19,282, graduates carry about $4,000 less debt than the state median, resulting in a manageable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio. Still, this lower debt doesn't offset the earnings gap. Over a decade, that $10,000 annual difference between KU and K-State could amount to over $100,000 in lost wages—far more than any debt savings.

Here's what matters: if your student is committed to natural resources conservation and staying in Kansas, this isn't the state's strongest option. The program performs adequately by national standards but falls short of what Kansas employers appear to value, based on what they're willing to pay K-State graduates. Unless KU offers specific faculty expertise, research opportunities, or scholarships that K-State doesn't, the earnings data suggests looking elsewhere. The field already pays modestly—choosing a program in the bottom half of state performers compounds that challenge.