Natural Resources programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $35,000 to $109,000 ten years after enrollment. Across 240 programs nationwide, the variation in median earnings demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories, with graduates earning $8,124 higher than the national average.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, achieving the highest program outcomes with $75,497 in graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley follows closely at $72,049, while Colgate University rounds out the top tier at $70,524. These top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes that justify their positioning in the rankings.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | San Jose, CA | $75,497 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $9,743 | 80.2% | 64.6% | |
| #2 | Bakersfield, CA | $73,115 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $3,070 | 88.2% | 49.3% | |
| #3 | Berkeley, CA | $72,049 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #4 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | Hamilton, NY | $70,524 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $3,341 | 11.9% | 90.5% |
| #5 | Los Angeles, CA | $69,142 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $6,864 | 8.7% | 92.7% | |
| #6 | Buzzards Bay, MA | $64,846 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $5,269 | 94.5% | 79.1% | |
| #7 | Seton Hall UniversityPrivate | South Orange, NJ | $64,641 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $17,681 | 78.9% | 71.5% |
| #8 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | Lewisburg, PA | $63,177 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $21,406 | 32.0% | 86.2% |
| #9 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | Redlands, CA | $62,460 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $21,520 | 80.9% | 70.7% |
| #10 | La Jolla, CA | $62,369 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $7,487 | 24.5% | 87.6% | |
| #11 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,010 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $15,470 | 10.0% | 92.0% | |
| #12 | San Diego, CA | $61,930 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $9,655 | 34.4% | 78.3% | |
| #13 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $61,930 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $31,741 | 50.8% | 71.1% |
| #14 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $61,598 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% | |
| #15 | New Orleans, LA | $61,560 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $20,957 | 14.6% | 88.9% | |
| #16 | Geneva, NY | $60,887 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $10,969 | 57.3% | 72.7% | |
| #17 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $60,690 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $21,396 | 43.5% | 85.2% |
| #18 | Sacramento, CA | $60,564 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $7,306 | 93.6% | 55.8% | |
| #19 | Yale UniversityPrivate | New Haven, CT | $60,161 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $28,132 | 4.5% | 96.3% |
| #20 | Hayward, CA | $58,905 Median Natural Resources Earnings | $8,059 | 96.8% | 45.5% |
