Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Forestry & Natural Resources degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Forestry & Natural Resources in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Forestry & Natural Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/month. Forestry & Natural Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Forest Management and GIS. The adjusted starting salary in Wichita is approximately $52,000.
Category
Agriculture
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Forestry & Natural Resources Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Forestry & Natural Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $65,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Forestry & Natural Resources ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Forestry & Natural Resources degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$309,372
Lifetime earnings premium ($395,200) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Forestry & Natural Resources in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Forestry & Natural Resources
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Forestry & Natural Resources in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Agribusiness, Government agencies, Research institutes for Forestry & Natural Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Agriculture
Agribusiness
Government agencies
Research institutes
Food companies
Conservation orgs
Common Forestry & Natural Resources Job Titles
Forestry & Natural Resources in Nearby Kansas Cities
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Agriculture Majors in Wichita
Forestry & Natural Resources Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.