U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 45 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 40% 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 $24,622. College Scorecard.
Metropolitan State University of Denver 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 Metropolitan State University of Denver'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 | $12,481 | $59,410 | 2.6 years |
| $30–48k | $12,436 | $59,195 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $14,927 | $71,053 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $19,539 | $93,006 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $23,822 | $113,393 | 5.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.8 years, the average time graduates took (13% 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 ($63,175) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,565 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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado college we cover that reports Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder | $63,337 | $21,000 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $63,175 | $25,370 | $15,327 | 32% |
| 3 | Colorado Mesa Universitybachelor's & associate | $50,384 | — | $15,103 | 41% |
| 4 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $50,330 | $15,140 | $21,279 | 67% |
| 5 | Western Colorado University | $49,170 | $21,612 | $16,425 | 51% |
| 6 | Fort Lewis College | $46,492 | $21,477 | $17,296 | 36% |
| 7 | Colorado College | $37,393 | $15,000 | $33,375 | 88% |
4 more Colorado 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 Metropolitan State University of Denver, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Acceptance rate: 99% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 32% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $52,093
- Full cost breakdown · all 76 majors · overview
Related majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Environmental Engineering—
- Environmental / Natural Resources Management and Policy—
Metropolitan State University of Denver Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do Metropolitan State University of Denver Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver earn a median $63,175 four years after graduating and $44,236 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do Metropolitan State University of Denver Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver is $25,370, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in Colorado?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State University of Denver earn $63,175 four years out, $12,845 above the median for the same major across 7 Colorado colleges ($50,330) and $8,209 above the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Metropolitan State University of Denver rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in Colorado?
Of 7 Colorado colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Metropolitan State University of Denver ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Colorado Boulder at $63,337.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $95,780 in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO area and $82,220 nationally. Others include compliance officers and conservation scientists.
Is Metropolitan State University of Denver the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Metropolitan State University of Denver 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: “Metropolitan State University of Denver Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).