U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 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 45% 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 $26,960. College Scorecard.
NEIU 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 NEIU'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 | $13,709 | $69,505 | 6.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,824 | $65,018 | 6.0 years |
| $48–75k | $15,077 | $76,440 | 7.1 years |
| $75–110k | $20,464 | $103,752 | 9.6 years |
| $110k+ | $25,001 | $126,755 | 11.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 5.1 years, the average time graduates took (4% 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 ($46,565) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,768 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 Illinois colleges
Every Illinois 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 | Augustana College | $62,757 | $26,000 | $22,736 | 73% |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago | $57,790 | $24,042 | $36,079 | 73% |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $55,382 | $21,000 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 4 | Northern Illinois University | $54,666 | $26,625 | $13,391 | 49% |
| 5 | University of Illinois Springfield | $54,579 | — | $9,833 | 53% |
| 6 | DePaul University | $52,622 | $24,750 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 7 | Northeastern Illinois University | $46,565 | $20,927 | $14,109 | 22% |
29 more Illinois 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 NEIU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NEIU
- Acceptance rate: 75% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 22% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $52,234
- Full cost breakdown · all 39 majors · overview
NEIU Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do NEIU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median $46,565 four years after graduating and $30,490 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do NEIU Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Northeastern Illinois University is $20,927, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Is NEIU a good school for Environmental Science / Conservation in Illinois?
On pay, Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn $46,565 four years out, $8,101 below the median for the same major across 7 Illinois colleges ($54,666) and $8,401 below the U.S. median ($54,966). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NEIU rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in Illinois?
Of 7 Illinois colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Northeastern Illinois University ranks 7th. The highest is Augustana College at $62,757.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $85,310 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 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: “Northeastern Illinois University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).