Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Colorado Northwestern Community College

Rangely, CO · Public · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 500 in Rangely, CO.

Program Analysis

At $38,698 per year, Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates from Colorado Northwestern Community College earn slightly above the $35,086 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 142.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 48% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $67,802 show a 75% jump from the $38,698 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Natural Resources Conservation and Research offers 6 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
64
Score
67
High End
Earnings $38,698/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (52% shielded)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$679K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
152.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,454
Out-of-state: $7,084
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,802
75% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830 +4.0% 52%
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710 +2.9% 48%
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health $80,060 +4.4% 47%
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
$100,830
+4.0% growth 52% AI-proof
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
$87,710
+2.9% growth 48% AI-proof
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
$80,060
+4.4% growth 47% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

About Natural Resources Conservation and Research Careers

Your work will take you from forests and streams to labs and offices, protecting our natural world. Many graduates start as environmental or conservation technicians, spending their days in the field collecting soil and water samples, operating monitoring equipment, and documenting ecosystem health. With experience, you can advance to roles like an environmental scientist, analyzing that data to develop remediation plans, or a compliance officer, ensuring companies adhere to environmental laws through site inspections and report reviews.

Read the full Natural Resources Conservation and Research career guide →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources Conservation and Research Overview

Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Other Schools

Other Majors at Colorado Northwestern Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 64/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Colorado Northwestern Community College?
At 64/100, Colorado Northwestern Community College's Natural Resources Conservation and Research program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Natural Resources Conservation and Research to AI automation?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Why does Colorado Northwestern Community College rank so high for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
Ranked #1 of 6 programs nationally, Colorado Northwestern Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?
There are 6 registered apprenticeships connected to Natural Resources Conservation and Research occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates?
The career paths mapped to Natural Resources Conservation and Research have roughly 55,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →