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Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Cape Coral, FL — Salary & ROI 2026

Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Cape Coral, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$49K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$64K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

5.6 yrs

in Cape Coral

Cost of Living

97.8

index (100 = avg)

Forestry & Natural Resources in Cape Coral, FL Overview

Cape Coral, Florida (pop. 194,016) has 7 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 97.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,035/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Cape Coral is approximately $48,900.

Category

Agriculture

Local Colleges

7

Public Tuition

$6,400/yr

Private Tuition

$30,000/yr

Room & Board

$14,023/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$13,184/yr

Unemployment

2.7%

Graduation Rate

52%

Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Cape Coral (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Cape Coral's cost of living index of 97.8 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$48,900($-1,100 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$63,570($-1,430 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$78,240($-1,760 vs national)

Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Cape Coral adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.

Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Cape Coral

Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Cape Coral tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $6,400 | Private avg: $30,000

Cape Coral avg aid: $13,184/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$81,692

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$14,670

vs HS diploma in Cape Coral

ROI Payback Period

5.6 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Cape Coral

$289,948

Lifetime earnings premium ($371,640) minus total education cost ($81,692)

Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Cape Coral

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$81,692
Monthly Payment$928
Total Interest$29,620
% of Monthly Income23%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$81,692
Monthly Payment$1,598
Total Interest$14,212
Interest Savings$15,408

Colleges in Cape Coral for Forestry & Natural Resources

Cape Coral State University

public

$6,313/yr

$25,252 total

University of Cape Coral

public

$6,340/yr

$25,360 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Cape Coral Community College

$5,542/yr

Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Cape Coral

Cape Coral offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:

US Forest ServiceNational Park ServiceState DNRWeyerhaeuserTimber Companies

Key Cape Coral Hiring Sectors for Agriculture

Agribusiness

Government agencies

Research institutes

Food companies

Conservation orgs

Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles

ForesterWildlife BiologistPark RangerConservation Officer

Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Cape Coral — 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.

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