Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #867 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,774 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry sits in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry delivers strong financial outcomes through its environmental science focus, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,774. These results reflect the institution's specialized curriculum and alignment with growing sustainability sectors.
Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #867 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 41.0 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R2) in Syracuse, NY, Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry enrolls roughly 1,839 undergraduates. Retention is 87.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.3%, reflecting strong persistence and completion outcomes for a specialized institution focused on environmental science and forestry. Where Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #1270 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 14.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,774, placing Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry sits in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's ability to move graduates into careers that outperform typical outcomes for comparable institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry enrolls 19.7% Pell-eligible students and 20.4% first-generation undergraduates — modest shares that reflect the institution's specialized mission and the self-selection of students drawn to environmental science and forestry fields. Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry in the 16.6 percentile for access and the 87.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's niche focus — concentrated in Biological Sciences — creates a distinctive economic profile: strong earnings for graduates in high-demand environmental and natural-resource fields, paired with a smaller, more specialized student body than typical public research universities.
SUNY College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's published cost of attendance is $28,133. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $9,473, middle-income families pay around $18,870, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,014. Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #177 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public SUNY institution, the college participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and New York State aid programs. The college's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid packages built around demonstrated need. Families apply using the FAFSA, and aid packages typically combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $11,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,551; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,774, median federal debt of $11,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $124 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
SUNY College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry is a strong fit for students passionate about environmental science, forestry, and biological fields who want a specialized public university experience in NY. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,774, placing SUNY College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,774 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls students from a range of backgrounds — 19.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.4% are first-generation. These figures track NY's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204. Fit depends on program alignment — Biological Sciences represents 0.8% of degrees, making this ideal for students focused on environmental and biological sciences. Those whose interests align with these fields will find strong outcomes in this specialized academic environment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
SUNY College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's published cost of attendance is $28,133. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $9,473, middle-income families pay around $18,870, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,014.
Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #177 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public SUNY institution, the college participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and New York State aid programs. The college's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid packages built around demonstrated need.
Families apply using the FAFSA, and aid packages typically combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $11,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,551; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,774, median federal debt of $11,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $124 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of SUNY College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry earn median 4-year earnings of $57,774, placing Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,774 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry in the 5.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry #1270 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's concentration in biological sciences and environmental fields.
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology is the largest program with 89 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $50,010, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program graduates 59 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,489, while Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy delivers median 4-year earnings of $65,604 for 36 graduates.
Zoology/Animal Biology and Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering round out the largest programs, each contributing meaningfully to the institution's overall earnings profile. The dominance of Biological Sciences across these programs — combined with strong early-career earnings in applied and environmental fields — positions Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry as a specialized institution with durable labor-market alignment and consistent returns for graduates pursuing careers in natural resource management, environmental science, and related disciplines.
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
36 graduates
Landscape Architecture
15 graduates
Forestry
32 graduates
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
89 graduates
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
59 graduates
Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's program mix is anchored in Biological Sciences — a portfolio shaped by the institution's specialized mission in environmental science and natural resource management. Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology is the largest program with 89 graduates, followed by Natural Resources Conservation and Research with 59 graduates, Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy with 36 graduates, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, and Zoology/Animal Biology.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 370 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with environmental and natural resource careers. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's disciplinary strengths.
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy leads with median earnings of $65,604 four years after enrollment, followed by Landscape Architecture earning $59,480, Forestry earning $57,664, Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology earning $50,010, and Natural Resources Conservation and Research earning $49,489. The earnings pattern reflects Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's positioning as a specialized institution where graduates enter environmental consulting, natural resource management, forestry, and related sectors that value field-specific expertise.
Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly in sectors with steady demand for environmental professionals. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in environmental and natural resource fields.
As a focused institution with deep specialization rather than broad program diversity, Suny College of Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Forestry creates concentrated alumni networks within environmental industries, which can amplify employer recruitment and career advancement within those sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Keuka College Higher acceptance rate (10.9 percentage points higher) and located 56 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 94% | $58,289 | Compare |
Wartburg College Higher acceptance rate (16.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IA | 99% | $56,201 | Compare |
Hiram College Higher acceptance rate (10.4 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | OH | 93% | $54,311 | Compare |
Le Moyne College Same state (3 miles away) (earnings difference: 12.5%) | NY | 75% | $62,731 | Compare |
Suny Brockport Same state (92 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | NY | 71% | $54,496 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma Similar quality tier (#28263 ranked) | OK | 66% | $41,913 | #28263 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina Asheville Similar quality tier (#28264 ranked) | NC | 92% | $44,030 | #28264 | Compare |
Southern Oregon University Similar quality tier (#28265 ranked) | OR | 89% | $49,175 | #28265 | Compare |
Mississippi Valley State University Similar quality tier (#28786 ranked) | MS | 92% | $31,919 | #28786 | Compare |
Dakota State University Similar quality tier (#28808 ranked) | SD | 88% | $50,970 | #28808 | Compare |
