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Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026

Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Charleston, SC. 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

6.7 yrs

in Charleston

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Forestry & Natural Resources in Charleston, SC Overview

Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 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 $1,168/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $51,500.

Category

Agriculture

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$13,659/yr

Private Tuition

$29,969/yr

Room & Board

$12,112/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$7,774/yr

Unemployment

6.2%

Graduation Rate

62%

Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$51,500(+$1,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$66,950(+$1,950 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$82,400(+$2,400 vs national)

Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Charleston

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

Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969

Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$103,084

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$15,450

vs HS diploma in Charleston

ROI Payback Period

6.7 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Charleston

$288,316

Lifetime earnings premium ($391,400) minus total education cost ($103,084)

Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Charleston

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,376
% of Monthly Income27%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$2,017
Total Interest$17,933
Interest Savings$19,442

Colleges in Charleston for Forestry & Natural Resources

College of Charleston

public

$12,622/yr

$50,488 total

The Citadel

public

$14,696/yr

$58,784 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Trident Technical College

$5,064/yr

Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Charleston

Charleston 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 Charleston 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 Charleston — 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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