Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates earn a median $56,185 four years after finishing — $7,825/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 8.6 years. Federal data pools 92 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,335 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy ranks #129 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 37% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Bakersfield | CA | $82,315 |
| 2 | West Virginia University | WV | $75,022 |
| 3 | University of Rhode Island | RI | $72,311 |
| 4 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | $71,279 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $68,965 |
| 6 | Michigan State University | MI | $68,913 |
| 7 | California State University-Channel Islands | CA | $67,558 |
| 8 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | NY | $65,604 |
| 9 | Everglades University | FL | $61,850 |
| 10 | Marist University | NY | $58,610 |
| 11 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | $54,665 |
| 12 | Unity Environmental University | ME | $53,934 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy pay grow after graduation?
From $39,422 one year out to $56,185 four years out — a $16,763 climb, or 43% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy each year?
About 1,335 bachelor's graduates a year across 92 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.