U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 42% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,875.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University Environmental Science / Conservation: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 District of Columbia colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Environmental Science / Conservation nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 3.7 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 3.3 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 4.2 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 4.8 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 8.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Environmental Science / Conservation graduates 4 years after graduating ($63,711) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $25,527 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Environmental Science / Conservation at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | $66,178 | $19,500 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 2 | American University | $63,711 | $26,905 | $41,943 | 75% |
1 more District of Columbia college offers Environmental Science / Conservation but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates
Environmental scientist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Compliance Officers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Conservation Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
American University Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do American University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of American University earn a median $63,711 four years after graduating and $46,780 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do American University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of American University is $26,905, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Where does American University rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in District of Columbia?
Of 2 District of Columbia colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, American University ranks 2nd. The highest is George Washington University at $66,178.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $108,160 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $82,220 nationally. Others include compliance officers and conservation scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).