Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Anchorage, AK — Salary & ROI 2026
Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Anchorage, AK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$79K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Anchorage
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Forestry & Natural Resources in Anchorage, AK Overview
Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 291,247) has 18 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,400/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Anchorage is approximately $60,500.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$8,100/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$19,313/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,634/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Anchorage (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Anchorage's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Anchorage adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Anchorage
Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Anchorage tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,100 | Private avg: $24,000
Anchorage avg aid: $15,634/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,652
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,150
vs HS diploma in Anchorage
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Anchorage
$350,148
Lifetime earnings premium ($459,800) minus total education cost ($109,652)
Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Anchorage
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Anchorage for Forestry & Natural Resources
University of Alaska Anchorage
public
$8,100/yr
$32,400 total
Alaska Pacific University
private
$24,000/yr
$96,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
UAA Community Campus
$4,300/yr
Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Anchorage
Anchorage offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Anchorage Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles
Other Agriculture Majors in Anchorage
Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Anchorage — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Forestry & Natural Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Anchorage.