U.S. median for this major: $54,966.
College Scorecard field of study; 26 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 53% 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 $19,601. College Scorecard.
Shepherd University Environmental Science / Conservation: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 West Virginia colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 Shepherd 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 | $7,906 | $34,865 | 2.5 years |
| $30–48k | $7,753 | $34,191 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $10,107 | $44,572 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $14,000 | $61,740 | 4.4 years |
| $110k+ | $15,866 | $69,969 | 5.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (33% 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 ($46,797) minus $32,695 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $14,102 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 West Virginia colleges
Every West Virginia 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 | Shepherd University | $46,797 | $25,000 | $11,363 | 51% |
| 2 | Marshall University | $43,995 | — | $7,502 | 51% |
5 more West Virginia 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 Shepherd University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Shepherd University
- Acceptance rate: 97% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 51% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,358
- Full cost breakdown · all 33 majors · overview
Shepherd University Environmental Science / Conservation questions
How much do Shepherd University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates earn?
Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Shepherd University earn a median $46,797 four years after graduating and $29,921 one year after. The U.S. median for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates across 260 colleges is $54,966.
How much debt do Shepherd University Environmental Science / Conservation graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Environmental Science / Conservation graduates of Shepherd University is $25,000, about 53% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,875.
Where does Shepherd University rank for Environmental Science / Conservation in West Virginia?
Of 2 West Virginia colleges reporting Environmental Science / Conservation graduate earnings, Shepherd University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Environmental Science / Conservation graduates get?
A common career is environmental scientist, with a median wage of $108,160 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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: “Shepherd University Environmental Science / Conservation: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/shepherd-university/majors/environmental-science-conservation (College Scorecard and BLS data).