Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Forestry & Natural Resources in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Athens is approximately $51,500.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$302,076
Lifetime earnings premium ($391,400) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Forestry & Natural Resources
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles
Forestry & Natural Resources in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$42K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$42K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$51K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$48K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$54K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$56K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Agriculture Majors in Athens
Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.