Forestry graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn $77,419 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $17,333.
Forestry at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Forestry at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Forestry at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 39 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $77,419 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $57,557 across all institutions offering Forestry, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the mean median-earnings figure is $84,869, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Forestry graduates at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $17,333, which translates to roughly $144 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Forestry at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $86,357 | $21,750 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | $79,849 | $21,000 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (this school) | $77,419 | $17,333 |
| University of Georgia | $68,965 | $14,500 |
| Louisiana Tech University | $65,941 | $22,083 |
| Alabama A & M University | $64,749 | — |
| Auburn University | $64,704 | $18,750 |
| West Virginia University | $64,568 | $20,500 |
| University of Idaho | $64,392 | $16,500 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $64,204 | $20,663 |
Other Programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $235,241 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $158,977 | — |
| Computer Science | $154,784 | $19,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $148,950 | $20,556 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $134,105 | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $132,720 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $131,448 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | $127,908 | $20,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $125,240 | $23,475 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $120,462 | — |
View all 86 programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →
Other Schools with Forestry
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.