Natural Resources and Conservation, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Key Insights
Wondering if Natural Resources and Conservation, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $27191, and the average student debt is $25489, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.94—so you’ll want to keep an eye on your loan payments.
With an annual graduating class of 150 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Natural Resources and Conservation, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other (CIP 03.9999) is a specialized category for interdisciplinary programs that do not fit into traditional buckets like "Forestry" or "Wildlife Management." This "Other" designation is frequently used for cutting-edge fields such as conservation data science, indigenous land management, urban ecology, or environmental conflict resolution. It is designed for students who want to bridge the gap between hard science and the complex social or technical systems that govern our planet’s resources.
This field is ideal for "environmental strategists"—individuals who want to look at the big picture of how humans and nature can coexist. It is a path for those who want to solve the "wicked problems" of the 21st century, like how to manage water rights in a drought or how to use satellite data to stop illegal deforestation in real-time.
What Is a Natural Resources and Conservation (Other) Degree?
A Natural Resources and Conservation (Other) degree focuses on the integrated management of the earth's assets. Because it falls into the "Other" category, these programs are often highly customizable and forward-thinking. You might study how renewable energy grids impact local biodiversity, or how international law can protect the high seas. It is less about studying a single animal or tree and more about studying the "web" of policies, technologies, and biological facts that determine the health of an entire ecosystem.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Sustainability Officers" who can help corporations reduce their resource consumption
- Develop specialists in Geospatial Technology for tracking environmental changes over time
- Prepare professionals for roles in environmental policy and advocacy
- Explore the intersection of economics and ecology (Natural Capital)
What Will You Learn?
Students learn to treat the environment as a complex system, using both field research and digital tools to find solutions.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Analyze environmental data using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and remote sensing
- Conduct "Environmental Impact Assessments" (EIAs) for new construction or energy projects
- Understand the legalities of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and international treaties
- Perform field techniques like water quality testing and soil sampling
- Use economic modeling to put a "value" on natural services like carbon sequestration
- Facilitate negotiations between government, industry, and local communities
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a diverse mix of hard science, law, and social strategy:
- Renewable Energy Policy: The transition from fossil fuels to wind, solar, and hydro.
- Environmental Ethics: Philosophical debates on the rights of nature versus human development.
- Conservation Genomics: Using DNA technology to protect endangered species.
- Climate Adaptation: Designing strategies for communities to survive rising sea levels.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Managing soil and water to feed a growing global population.
- Circular Economy: Designing systems where waste is eliminated and resources are reused.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates often fill roles that require a mix of scientific literacy and management capability.
Common job roles include:
- Sustainability Consultant: Helping businesses minimize their "environmental footprint."
- Conservation Scientist: Managing the overall health of land used for recreation, timber, or grazing.
- Environmental Policy Analyst: Researching and drafting laws related to resource use.
- GIS Specialist: Creating maps that track things like wildfire risk or species migration.
- Resource Manager: Overseeing water, minerals, or forests for a government agency.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager: Leading a company's "green" initiatives.
Where Can You Work?
Specialists in this field are found in the public, private, and non-profit sectors:
- Government Agencies: Such as the EPA, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or the Department of Energy.
- Environmental Engineering Firms: Consulting on large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Non-Profit Organizations: Groups like The Nature Conservancy or the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
- Private Energy Companies: Working on the environmental compliance of wind or solar farms.
- International Organizations: Such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings depend heavily on whether you lean toward field science, data analysis, or corporate management.
- Environmental Scientists: Median annual salary of approximately $76,000–$85,000.
- Conservation Scientists: Median annual salary of around $64,000–$72,000.
- Sustainability Managers: Salaries typically range from $85,000 to $125,000.
- GIS Technicians/Analysts: Median annual salary of approximately $60,000–$80,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the interdisciplinary nature of the work. You must be comfortable switching between a chemistry lab, a legal library, and a data-crunching computer. It requires a "high-tolerance for complexity"—understanding that a solution for the environment might be a problem for the local economy, and vice versa. You must be a strong writer, a logical researcher, and a patient negotiator.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Love the outdoors but are also interested in politics and technology
- Are a "systems thinker" who likes to see how everything is connected
- Want a career that directly addresses the climate and biodiversity crises
- Enjoy using maps, statistics, and digital tools to solve puzzles
- Are comfortable with a job that is half in the office and half in the field
How to Prepare in High School
- Take classes in Biology, Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, and Statistics
- Learn the basics of GIS or Coding (Python)—these are the power tools of modern conservation
- Join an "Envirothon" team or a local outdoor/conservation club
- Volunteer for a local watershed association or park cleanup
- Read about "Natural Resource Economics" to understand how the world values its assets
The ability to use data and policy to protect the world's most vital resources is the hallmark of a successful conservation professional.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor