Maine · Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Maine

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Maine, Bates College and University of New England are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Maine by graduate earnings. University of Maine leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,297, College Scorecard. University of Maine, Colby College and Bates College award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Maine: 78, 48 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Maine colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 321 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…

Institutions
9
offering CIP 03.01
States & territories
56
with a program page
Degrees / yr
321
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,465
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,316
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
60%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Conservation Scientists
$77,100
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Maine
Orono Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,2977855%—$26,500
2Bates College
Lewiston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,4373990%$18,203$9,614
3University of New England
Biddeford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,4342968%$34,673$27,000
4Colby College
Waterville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,2164889%$15,696$19,313
5University of Southern Maine
Portland Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,4651440%—$26,513

Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Maine

Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Maine
Orono Public
78$39,297
2Colby College
Waterville Private not-for-profit
48$28,216
3Bates College
Lewiston Private not-for-profit
39$38,437
4University of New England
Biddeford Private not-for-profit
29$34,434
5University of Southern Maine
Portland Public
14$34,465
6University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle Public
8Not reported
7Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
8Thomas College
Waterville Private not-for-profit
2Not reported
Show the other 1 Maine colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Unity Environmental University (Online)New GloucesterPrivate not-for-profit100

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.4%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~2,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$67,950
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingScienceWritingCritical Thinking

What Conservation Scientists earn in Maine

Jobs in Maine
290
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$77,100
median $75,900
Best-paying metro
$80,540
Portland-South Portland, ME

Related careers

Compliance Officers
$86,600 avg · 1,790 jobs
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$71,400 avg · 530 jobs
Conservation Scientists
$77,100 avg · 290 jobs
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
$55,030 avg · 150 jobs
Foresters
$68,980 avg · 70 jobs
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$102,390 avg · 50 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Maine.

Which Maine colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+

University of Maine (78 graduates a year), Colby College (48 graduates a year) and Bates College (39 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Maine, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Maine colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.

What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Maine?+

By graduate earnings, University of Maine leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Maine, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,297, College Scorecard. Bates College and University of New England follow. By degrees awarded, University of Maine is the largest, with 78 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in Maine has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Maine tops the list at $39,297. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Conservation Scientists earn in Maine?+

The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in Maine is $77,100 (median $75,900), across about 290 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Natural Resources Conservation and Research program?+

The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, science, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Conservation Scientists?+

The national job outlook is about +3.4% growth with around 2,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Natural Resources Conservation and Research in other statesAlabamaDistrict of ColumbiaWest VirginiaKansasOklahomaNew JerseyArizonaRhode Island

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card