Natural Resources Conservation and Research at University of Portland

University of Portland's natural resources program places graduates slightly above the middle of the pack both nationally (57th percentile) and within Oregon (60th percentile), with first-year earnings of $35,349. That's better than Portland State and University of Oregon, though it trails the stronger returns at Oregon State by about $4,000. For parents weighing in-state options, this program performs competitively—particularly notable given that students graduate with $22,875 in debt, which is actually below both state and national medians for this field.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 means your student would owe roughly eight months' salary, which is manageable territory for an environmental career. Natural resources fields often trade immediate earnings for mission-driven work and long-term stability, so these starting salaries reflect broader sector realities rather than program-specific weaknesses. The relatively low debt load gives graduates breathing room to pursue conservation positions that might not maximize salary but offer meaningful work.

One important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than at larger programs. If your student is passionate about environmental work and values Portland's nonprofit and government conservation sector, the combination of moderate debt and competitive state-level placement makes this a reasonable choice. Just recognize they won't match the earning power of Oregon State's larger program—at least not right out of the gate.