Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Louisville, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Louisville, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Louisville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Forestry & Natural Resources in Louisville, KY Overview
Louisville, Kentucky (pop. 633,045) has 17 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,349/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Louisville is approximately $45,000.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$12,324/yr
Private Tuition
$37,190/yr
Room & Board
$12,044/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,150/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
58%
Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Louisville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Louisville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Louisville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Louisville
Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Louisville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,324 | Private avg: $37,190
Louisville avg aid: $16,150/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Louisville
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Louisville
$244,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($342,000) minus total education cost ($97,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Louisville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Louisville for Forestry & Natural Resources
University of Louisville
public
$12,324/yr
$49,296 total
Bellarmine University
private
$45,790/yr
$183,160 total
Spalding University
private
$28,590/yr
$114,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Louisville
Louisville offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Louisville Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles
Forestry & Natural Resources in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other Agriculture Majors in Louisville
Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Louisville — 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 Louisville.