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2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

50 Ranked Colleges
4,848 Degrees Awarded
$10,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 30,341 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 26th most popular in the United States. 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 Far Western US region, there were 6,337 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,390 and $23,671 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,848 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,083 and $22,209 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 50 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality natural resources and conservation programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

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 Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 514 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $9,130 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Berkeley

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $9,254 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 202 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,467 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#24 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Bakersfield. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - Bakersfield is a fairly large school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUB also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $3,880 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Bakersfield

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Riverside landed the #5 spot on the list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCR is $9,151 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UCR Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 44 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $10,373 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - Irvine.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Irvine

#15 in overall quality

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UAF is a medium-sized public school situated in Fairbanks, Alaska. It awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UAF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $7,341 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Alaska Fairbanks

#8

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 358 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $11,895 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Santa Barbara

#9

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 98 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $10,594 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full San Diego State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

California State University - Long Beach came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $7,595 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Long Beach

#7 in overall quality

University of California - Davis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 371 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $10,769 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Davis

#10 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 66 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $9,974 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCSD.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UCSD

#13

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,869 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - San Bernardino.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - San Bernardino

#14

Occidental College

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

Occidental College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Oxy also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $17,662 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oxy.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Oxy

#15

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $11,337 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wazzu Natural Resources & Conservation Report

California State University - Sacramento came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 56 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $7,823 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Sac State

#17

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
#21 in overall quality

Western Washington University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 280 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WWU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $11,228 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend WWU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full WWU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 61 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $11,752 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at San Jose State University

#19

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, Washington

Eastern Washington University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Washington University is a public institution located in Cheney, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend EWU is $8,821 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Eastern Washington University

#20

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 246 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend UC Santa Cruz is $11,793 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Santa Cruz

#18 in overall quality

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 121 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $14,680 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#22

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#3 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, USC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $16,252 for Far Western US Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Southern California.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Full USC Natural Resources & Conservation Report

With a ranking of #23, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,891 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cal State East Bay.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Cal State East Bay

#24

Southern Oregon University

Ashland, Oregon

Southern Oregon University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized school located in Ashland, Oregon that handed out 28 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Oregon University is $9,270 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southern Oregon University

California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSUMB is $9,567 for far western us region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Monterey Bay Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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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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