U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 $82,991. College Scorecard.
Macalester College 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 Macalester College'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 | $13,772 | $56,603 | 7.6 years |
| $30–48k | $11,982 | $49,246 | 6.6 years |
| $48–75k | $11,098 | $45,613 | 6.1 years |
| $75–110k | $20,527 | $84,366 | 11.3 years |
| $110k+ | $44,880 | $184,457 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (82% 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 ($45,632) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $7,448 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 Minnesota colleges
Every Minnesota 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 St Thomas | $69,525 | $24,625 | $29,155 | 76% |
| 2 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | $65,513 | — | $19,139 | 54% |
| 3 | Saint Johns University | $59,718 | — | $25,672 | 75% |
| 4 | Saint Cloud State University | $59,549 | $26,000 | $13,529 | 40% |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $56,916 | $24,250 | $16,778 | 85% |
| 6 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $56,728 | $26,894 | $18,743 | 65% |
| 7 | Gustavus Adolphus College | $49,758 | $23,250 | $22,900 | 77% |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Crookston | $49,610 | $21,380 | $12,212 | 50% |
| 9 | Bemidji State University | $49,001 | $24,000 | $15,261 | 48% |
| 10 | St Olaf College | $48,137 | $24,455 | $23,874 | 84% |
| 11 | Macalester College | $45,632 | $19,000 | $32,149 | 87% |
| 12 | University of Minnesota-Morris | $43,584 | — | $8,837 | 63% |
10 more Minnesota 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 Macalester College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Macalester College
- Acceptance rate: 29% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 87% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,878
- Full cost breakdown · all 38 majors · overview
Related majors at Macalester College
- Geography and Environmental Studies—
Macalester College Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do Macalester College Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Macalester College earn a median $45,632 four years after graduating and $29,559 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do Macalester College Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Macalester College is $19,000, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is Macalester College a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in Minnesota?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Macalester College earn $45,632 four years out, $7,611 below the median for the same major across 12 Minnesota colleges ($53,243) and $9,334 below the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Macalester College rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in Minnesota?
Of 12 Minnesota colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Macalester College ranks 11th. The highest is University of St Thomas at $69,525.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $97,860 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 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: “Macalester College Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/macalester-college/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).