2023 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation
270
Ranked Colleges
30,503
Degrees Awarded
$14,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 30,503 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 25th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking analyzed 270 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources and conservation programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools”.
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 Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. American Public University System is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 490 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, American Military University is also in the top of our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for American Public University System is $10,563 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at American Military University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
South Dakota State excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $18,578 for natural resources & conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Webster University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools. Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $23,248 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Webster
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,038 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Phoenix - Arizona
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,998 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 295 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Full UW - Stevens Point Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Purdue University Global came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue University Global
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for natural resources & conservation students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #9, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 52 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $18,505 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Duluth
Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #10. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, Florida State is in the top on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $9,946 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Florida State
Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 106 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Skysong
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 34 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for natural resources & conservation students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University of Wyoming ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. UW is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 81 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW is $11,085 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #14, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 135 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa State excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $16,002 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa State University
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, University of Oklahoma also did well on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Oklahoma Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #16, Columbia Southern University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, Alabama and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Columbia Southern University is $11,241 for natural resources & conservation students.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Columbia Southern University
Brigham Young University - Idaho ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend BYU - I is $6,698 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at BYU - I
Haywood Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #18. Haywood Community College is a small school located in Clyde, North Carolina that handed out 45 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Haywood Community College is $6,940 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Haywood Community College
Bemidji State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 48 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $16,033 for natural resources & conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Bemidji State University
Central Michigan University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for natural resources & conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Central Michigan
University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston is $11,593 for natural resources & conservation students.
Full UMN Crookston Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Mississippi State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Mississippi State is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, Mississippi State is in the top on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $16,122 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Mississippi State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full Mississippi State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #23. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at USF Tampa
With a ranking of #24, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. This small school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 244 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, ESF also did well on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is $21,413 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
North Carolina State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 333 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our natural resources & conservation students list, NC State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,411 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend NC State.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at NC State