Natural Resources at Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Natural Resources Conservation and Research

enrolling 6,004 students in Appleton, WI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,996 track close to the $35,086 national median for Natural Resources programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 45.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Natural Resources programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Natural Resources's career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 26% gap from the optimistic case.

At $9,600 in median debt against $32,996 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

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

Earnings grow from $32,996 to $44,079 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
49
Score
52
High End
Earnings $32,996/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (52% shielded)
Job Market Large (55,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$467K
7.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
47.5x
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)
$9,832
Out-of-state: $14,218
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,600
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,079
34% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Natural Resources 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 →

Natural Resources Career Guide

What can you do with a Natural Resources credential from Fox Valley Technical College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Natural Resources career guide →

Compare & Explore

Natural Resources Overview

Natural Resources at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fox Valley Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fox Valley Technical College's Natural Resources program score?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Natural Resources. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Should I worry about AI if I study Natural Resources at Fox Valley Technical College?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $345,211 in decade earnings vs $466,984 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Natural Resources at Fox Valley Technical College?
At $9,600 in median debt, Natural Resources graduates from Fox Valley Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Natural Resources graduates?
Yes — 6 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Natural Resources career paths, including Environmental Analyst. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Fox Valley Technical College.
What's the job market like for Natural Resources from Fox Valley Technical College?
Job availability for Natural Resources is strong — 55,700 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Fox Valley Technical College graduates specifically, local market conditions in WI may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →