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2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

32 Ranked Colleges
1,353 Degrees Awarded
$10,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 26th most popular major in the country with 30,341 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,196 and had an average of $25,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,830 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,070 and $31,094 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,353 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 32 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $5,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Washington University in St Louis

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 170 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a public institution located in Crookston, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Crookston is $5,832 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Crookston

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMN Morris is $4,230 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full UMN Morris Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 118 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa State

#6

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

Valley City State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valley City State University is located in Valley City, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Valley City State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valley City State University is $7,026 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Valley City State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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 UMN Duluth

#8

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $12,459 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full St Olaf College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Saint Cloud State University

#7 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 84 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNL has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $12,216 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. UNOMAHA is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 22 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Minnesota State Mankato

#12 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. North Dakota State University is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,524 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The low 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at North Dakota State University

#14

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Missouri Western is a small school located in Saint Joseph, Missouri that handed out 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western State University is $8,762 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Missouri Western State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#15

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#5 in overall quality

South Dakota State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $15,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State University

#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national 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.

Full Mizzou Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#17

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Saint Johns University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SJU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Minnesota. It awarded 12 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,683 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Johns University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SJU

#18

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Macalester College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,158 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Macalester College

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,990 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Northwest Missouri State University

#20

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Iowa landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full University of Iowa Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#25 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $12,527 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri State

#23

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, K -State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $14,232 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at K -State

#24

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small school located in Saint Peter, Minnesota that handed out 24 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Gustavus Adolphus has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $12,150 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#25

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #25, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $12,065 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UMKC

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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