2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,378 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 153 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 153 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 153 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Duke
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 195 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvard, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Harvard University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Yale is a fairly large school located in New Haven, Connecticut that handed out 168 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500.
Out of the 153 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #4 spot on the list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 86 students in 2019-2020.
UPenn also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Pennsylvania Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Out of the 153 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
UChicago also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Florida ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.
UF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.
With a ranking of #7, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 76 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Columbia University in the City of New York
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 129 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #9, Cornell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ithaca, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cornell is also in the top of our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.
Full Cornell University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 64 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of California - Berkeley came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 79 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Northeastern University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Northeastern also did well on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Northeastern University
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 53 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 64 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at IU Bloomington
The University of West Florida ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Pensacola, Florida, and it awarded 15 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Emory University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Emory is also in the top of our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Emory University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
California State University - Fullerton came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Cal State Fullerton
Tufts University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Tufts University is located in Medford, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Tufts University
University of Georgia ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 53 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #21, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 21 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UMCP
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Twin Cities
Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 15 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue University - Main Campus
North Carolina State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
NC State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Virginia - Main Campus
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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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