U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 82 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 49% 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 $28,367. College Scorecard.
GVSU 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 GVSU'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 | $12,272 | $54,242 | 3.5 years |
| $30–48k | $11,902 | $52,607 | 3.4 years |
| $48–75k | $12,861 | $56,846 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $16,609 | $73,412 | 4.7 years |
| $110k+ | $22,534 | $99,600 | 6.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% 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 ($49,113) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,702 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $65,714 | $16,577 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Michigan State University | $60,728 | $23,750 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 3 | Oakland University | $59,922 | $25,171 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University | $54,315 | $27,500 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 5 | Adrian College | $52,176 | — | $25,368 | 48% |
| 6 | Northern Michigan University | $50,300 | $24,250 | $14,085 | 52% |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University | $49,113 | $24,158 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 8 | Central Michigan University | $48,290 | $29,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Flint | $37,015 | — | $7,007 | 40% |
16 more Michigan 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 GVSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GVSU
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,118
- Full cost breakdown · all 83 majors · overview
GVSU Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do GVSU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median $49,113 four years after graduating and $32,118 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do GVSU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Grand Valley State University is $24,158, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is GVSU a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in Michigan?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Grand Valley State University earn $49,113 four years out, $3,063 below the median for the same major across 9 Michigan colleges ($52,176) and $5,853 below the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does GVSU rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in Michigan?
Of 9 Michigan colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University ranks 7th. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $65,714.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $79,060 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area and $82,220 nationally. Others include compliance officers and conservation scientists.
Is GVSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing GVSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Grand Valley State University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grand-valley-state-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).