U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 26 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 39% 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 $28,816. College Scorecard.
CWU Environmental Science / Conservation: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 CWU'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 | $11,846 | $52,478 | 5.0 years |
| $30–48k | $13,942 | $61,763 | 5.9 years |
| $48–75k | $16,022 | $70,977 | 6.7 years |
| $75–110k | $21,682 | $96,051 | 9.1 years |
| $110k+ | $26,719 | $118,365 | 11.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% 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 ($50,776) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,557 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Seattle University | $63,465 | $20,250 | $34,662 | 76% |
| 2 | Gonzaga University | $60,015 | $24,118 | $35,119 | 86% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $58,229 | $17,184 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 4 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $58,229 | $17,184 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 5 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $58,229 | $17,184 | $10,163 | 63% |
| 6 | Eastern Washington University | $58,106 | — | $13,886 | 43% |
| 7 | Western Washington University | $53,781 | $20,854 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 8 | Central Washington University | $50,776 | $20,000 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 9 | University of Puget Sound | $46,112 | $24,623 | $38,394 | 68% |
12 more Washington colleges offer Environmental Science / Conservation but have 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 CWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CWU
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,580
- Full cost breakdown · all 113 majors · overview
Related majors at CWU
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology—
CWU Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do CWU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Central Washington University earn a median $50,776 four years after graduating and $29,725 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do CWU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Central Washington University is $20,000, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is CWU a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in Washington?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Central Washington University earn $50,776 four years out, $7,453 below the median for the same major across 9 Washington colleges ($58,229) and $4,190 below the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CWU rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in Washington?
Of 9 Washington colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Central Washington University ranks 8th. The highest is Seattle University at $63,465.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $98,300 in Washington 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: “Central Washington University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-washington-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).