Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of Maine

University of Maine charges $3,000 more in student debt than the national median for natural resources programs, yet delivers graduates who earn $5,300 above the national benchmark—a tradeoff that actually works in students' favor. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, graduates here carry manageable debt relative to their first-year income, especially compared to programs where borrowers face ratios exceeding 1.0. The $39,297 starting salary places this program ahead of 76% of similar programs nationwide.

Within Maine, UMaine holds its own against more selective institutions. It essentially matches Bates College's outcomes at $39,297 versus $38,437, despite Bates' 14% admission rate compared to UMaine's 96% open-door policy. The university outearns every other in-state natural resources program except Bates by several thousand dollars. That said, debt levels are uniform across Maine programs at $26,500, so the earnings advantage is where UMaine distinguishes itself.

For families considering natural resources conservation, UMaine offers something increasingly rare: better-than-average outcomes at a public university price point. The debt burden is real but proportional to earning potential, and graduates enter the workforce earning more than three-quarters of their peers nationally. This is a solid return for students genuinely committed to conservation careers.