U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 16% 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 $87,072. College Scorecard.
Duke University 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 Duke 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 | $735 | $3,006 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $0 | $0 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $5,706 | $23,338 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $17,100 | $69,939 | 1.8 years |
| $110k+ | $54,230 | $221,801 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (88% 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 ($73,435) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $39,919 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | Duke University | $73,435 | $11,875 | $29,612 | 97% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $65,337 | $12,044 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $49,806 | — | $10,260 | 44% |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $46,772 | $21,500 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $46,527 | $22,309 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Asheville | $46,518 | $22,880 | $12,250 | 54% |
| 7 | Appalachian State University | $46,207 | $23,125 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 8 | Warren Wilson College | $43,793 | — | $21,249 | 42% |
| 9 | Catawba College | $42,505 | $25,794 | $17,879 | 47% |
| 10 | Western Carolina University | $40,831 | — | $13,315 | 60% |
17 more North Carolina 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 Duke University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Duke University
- Acceptance rate: 6% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 97% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $97,800
- Full cost breakdown · all 64 majors · overview
Related majors at Duke University
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology—
- Environmental Engineering—
Duke University Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do Duke University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median $73,435 four years after graduating and $28,121 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do Duke University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Duke University is $11,875, about 16% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is Duke University a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in North Carolina?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Duke University earn $73,435 four years out, $26,913 above the median for the same major across 10 North Carolina colleges ($46,522) and $18,469 above the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Duke University rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in North Carolina?
Of 10 North Carolina colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Duke University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $82,840 in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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: “Duke University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/duke-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).