Forestry at University of Vermont

Drawing on national patterns from similar forestry programs, UVM's bachelor's degree appears positioned in the middle of the field, with estimated first-year earnings around $43,000 and debt near $22,600—a 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable by most standards. As Vermont's only forestry bachelor's program, it faces no in-state competition, but that uniqueness doesn't tell us much about outcomes without school-specific data.

The real question is whether forestry aligns with your child's career goals, particularly given Vermont's smaller forestry industry compared to states like Oregon or Montana. National programs show relatively compressed earnings—the 75th percentile sits at just $45,800, suggesting limited early salary variation regardless of where you study. This means the debt load matters more than usual, since higher performers won't dramatically out-earn their peers in year one.

The estimated debt here is reasonable for a field with steady but modest starting salaries. However, forestry careers often require fieldwork in rural areas with lower costs of living, so that $43,000 may stretch further than it appears. Before committing, you'd want to understand UVM's specific employer connections and whether graduates typically stay in Vermont or relocate to regions with more robust forestry sectors.