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2025 Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools

233 Colleges in the United States
17,179 Bachelor's Degrees
$34,596 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #33 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 233 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 17,179 bachelor's degrees in natural resources conservation to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Natural Resources Conservation School for Your Bachelor's Degree

Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools Your choice of natural resources conservation for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality conservation program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for natural resources conservation students working on their bachelor's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Conservation Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Schools for Bachelor’s Students to Study Natural Resources Conservation in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Conservation

1
430 Annual Graduates
$47,338 Median Starting Salary
$27,918 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation major at University of California - Berkeley make $12,742 above the standard college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of California - Berkeley

2
282 Annual Graduates
$36,266 Median Starting Salary
$27,559 Median Student Debt

Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation has to take a look at Texas A&M University - College Station. Texas A&M College Station is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of College Station.

After graduating, conservation bachelor's recipients typically earn an average of $36,266 in their early careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Texas A&M University - College Station

3
227 Annual Graduates
$38,954 Median Starting Salary
$26,101 Median Student Debt

University of California - Davis is one of the best schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation. UC Davis is a very large public university located in the small suburb of Davis.

Natural Resources Conservation bachelor's degree recipients from University of California - Davis earn a boost of approximately $4,358 over the typical earnings of natural resources conservation majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of California - Davis

4
184 Annual Graduates
$35,867 Median Starting Salary
$23,900 Median Student Debt

Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in natural resources conservation has to look into University of Washington - Seattle Campus. UW Seattle is a very large public university located in the large city of Seattle.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program earn around $35,867 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

5

UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Madison.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program earn an average of $28,824 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Wisconsin - Madison

6
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Durham.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program make about $28,121 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Duke University

7

Located in the large city of Raleigh, NC State is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Soon after graduation, conservation bachelor's recipients generally earn about $32,948 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from North Carolina State University

8
129 Annual Graduates
$29,690 Median Starting Salary
$18,575 Median Student Debt

UMass Amherst is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Amherst.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program make around $29,690 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Massachusetts Amherst

9
149 Annual Graduates
$33,132 Median Starting Salary
$31,377 Median Student Debt

UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the conservation program state that they receive average early career income of $33,132.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

10
106 Annual Graduates
$31,944 Median Starting Salary
$39,463 Median Student Debt

UCLA is a very large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program make an average of $31,944 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of California - Los Angeles

11
209 Annual Graduates
$30,899 Median Starting Salary
$28,722 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Bellingham, WWU is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the conservation program earn around $30,899 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Western Washington University

12
318 Annual Graduates
$33,759 Median Starting Salary
$32,297 Median Student Debt

UCSB is a very large public university located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the conservation program earn an average of $33,759 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of California - Santa Barbara

13
123 Annual Graduates
$29,264 Median Starting Salary
$17,980 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the conservation program make about $29,264 for their early career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

14
151 Annual Graduates
$29,152 Median Starting Salary
$30,033 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a large student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program earn an average of $29,152 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of California - Santa Cruz

15
65 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Southern California

16

Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation major at Cornell University make $7,025 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Cornell University

17
78 Annual Graduates
$37,890 Median Starting Salary
$35,266 Median Student Debt

Iowa State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Ames.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation degree program at Iowa State University get $3,294 more than the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Iowa State University

18
UVM crest
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT
219 Annual Graduates
$26,871 Median Starting Salary
$67,947 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Burlington, UVM is a public university with a large student population.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program make around $26,871 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Vermont

19

University of Virginia is a very large public university located in the medium-sized suburb of Charlottesville.

Natural Resources Conservation bachelor's degree recipients from University of Virginia - Main Campus earn a boost of approximately $7,194 above the average earnings of natural resources conservation graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Virginia - Main Campus

20
170 Annual Graduates
$39,545 Median Starting Salary
$25,820 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation degree program at Ohio State University - Main Campus make $4,949 more than the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Ohio State University - Main Campus

21
52 Annual Graduates
$38,908 Median Starting Salary
$74,289 Median Student Debt

Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public university with a very large student population.

Natural Resources Conservation bachelor's degree recipients from University of Delaware earn a boost of approximately $4,312 above the typical earnings of natural resources conservation graduates.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Delaware

22
81 Annual Graduates
$26,899 Median Starting Salary
$32,429 Median Student Debt

UCONN is a very large public university located in the fringe town of Storrs.

Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program earn an average of $26,899 in their early career salary.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of Connecticut

23

Located in the large city of Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Natural Resources Conservation bachelor's degree recipients from Northeastern University get an earnings boost of around $16,541 over the typical income of natural resources conservation majors.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Northeastern University

24
54 Annual Graduates
$37,286 Median Starting Salary
$44,460 Median Student Debt

Located in the fringe town of Durham, UNH is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation degree program at University of New Hampshire - Main Campus make $2,690 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from University of New Hampshire - Main Campus

25
113 Annual Graduates
$40,476 Median Starting Salary
$21,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a very large student population.

Bachelor's recipients from the natural resources conservation program at Arizona State University - Tempe earn $5,880 more than the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation from Arizona State University - Tempe

Rest of the Top Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools

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27
28
29
The American University crest
American University
Washington, DC
30
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
31
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
32
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

33
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

34
35
36
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
37
38
39
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
40
41

42
Colby crest
Colby College
Waterville, ME

43
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
44
45
46

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
47 Middlebury College Middlebury, VT
48 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
49 Baylor University Waco, TX
50 Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN
51 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
52 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
53 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
54 Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL
55 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
56 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
57 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
58 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
59 University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE
60 Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA
61 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
62 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
63 Fordham University Bronx, NY
64 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
65 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
66 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
67 University of Denver Denver, CO
68 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
69 Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA
70 The University of Montana Missoula, MT
71 University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA
72 California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CA
73 Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA
74 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
75 University of Redlands Redlands, CA
76 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
77 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO

Natural Resources Conservation by Region

View the Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 5 majors within the Natural Resources & Conservation area of study, Natural Resources Conservation has other similar majors worth exploring.

Conservation Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Environmental Studies 7,853
Environmental Science 7,703
Natural Resources/Conservation, General 1,500
Natural Resources Conservation & Research, Other 123

Majors Similar to Conservation

Related Major Annual Graduates
Wildlife Management 1,669
Natural Resource Management 1,370
Forestry 1,123
Fisheries Sciences 319
Natural Resources Conservation (Other) 79

Notes and References

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