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Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$47K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$60K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.2 yrs

in Jackson

Cost of Living

93

index (100 = avg)

Forestry & Natural Resources in Jackson, MS Overview

Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Jackson is approximately $46,500.

Category

Agriculture

Local Colleges

11

Public Tuition

$8,684/yr

Private Tuition

$27,400/yr

Room & Board

$12,839/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$14,629/yr

Unemployment

4.6%

Graduation Rate

62%

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

Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$46,500($-3,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$60,450($-4,550 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$74,400($-5,600 vs national)

Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.

Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Jackson

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

Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400

Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$86,092

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$13,950

vs HS diploma in Jackson

ROI Payback Period

6.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Jackson

$267,308

Lifetime earnings premium ($353,400) minus total education cost ($86,092)

Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Jackson

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$86,092
Monthly Payment$978
Total Interest$31,215
% of Monthly Income25%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$86,092
Monthly Payment$1,684
Total Interest$14,977
Interest Savings$16,238

Colleges in Jackson for Forestry & Natural Resources

Jackson State University

public

$8,684/yr

$34,736 total

Belhaven University

private

$27,400/yr

$109,600 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Hinds Community College

$3,300/yr

Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Jackson

Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson — 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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