Natural Resources Conservation and Research at Hudson Valley Community College
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 03.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Natural Resources Conservation and Research degree from Hudson Valley Community College earn a median salary of $42,746 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $32,383. The degree typically pays for itself in 13.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$31,905
Typical Career
$42,746
Top Performers
$56,170
Estimated break-even: 13.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$285
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,562. Most students can comfortably afford about a $285 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$32,383
Nominal: $42,746 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $22,195 | $27,709 | $40,883 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $31,905 | $42,746 | $56,170 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $46,663 | $63,723 | $76,435 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $42,746 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,746 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $32,383 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program's graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 37.8% initially employed in this field, followed by 22.9% in the same sector at a later stage, and 19.6% in Public Administration. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 13.6 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment. This timeline indicates that while the program can lead to improved earnings, students should carefully consider the long-term financial implications of their educational choices.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.