2022 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Southwest Region 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.
Across the Southwest region, there were 2,575 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,417 and $24,287 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources and conservation programs, but they also 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 26 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Rio Grande Valley also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UT Rio Grande Valley
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #2 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 416 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - College Station is $13,270 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Texas A&M University - College Station Natural Resources & Conservation Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
OSU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $9,962 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #4 spot on the list. Texas Tech is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 75 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,326 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas Tech.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas Tech University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. ASU - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 231 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
ASU - Tempe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region 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.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Tempe
University of Houston landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 18 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
UH also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend UH is $9,925 for Southwest Region 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 86%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston
University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,941 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UH Clear Lake.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston - Clear Lake
The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school handed out 65 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
UTSA also took the #18 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at San Antonio is $11,109 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of Arizona ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 159 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Arizona also took the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,466 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Arizona.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Arizona
Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas State University is $12,292 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Texas State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Las Cruces, New Mexico 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 2019-2020.
NMSU Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Main Campus is $7,006 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #12, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SFASU is a fairly large public school situated in Nacogdoches, Texas. It awarded 71 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
SFASU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $10,816 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 150 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UOPX - Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UOPX - Arizona is $13,378 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Phoenix - Arizona
With a ranking of #14, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M Commerce is a public institution located in Commerce, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,580 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M University - Commerce.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M Commerce
With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Arlington also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $12,974 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Arlington.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Texas at Arlington
Northern Arizona University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 257 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $9,799 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a ranking of #17, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. ASU - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 85 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $12,020 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at ASU - Skysong
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.
University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $17,285 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 University of Oklahoma
New Mexico Highlands University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. New Mexico Highlands University is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
New Mexico Highlands University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $9,126 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend New Mexico Highlands University.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at New Mexico Highlands University
With a ranking of #19, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Corpus Christi, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $16,393 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Southwestern University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Georgetown, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
Southwestern also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $21,578 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwestern.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southwestern University
Tarleton State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Tarleton is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 63 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton is $17,132 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Tarleton
Saint Edward’s University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 16 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
St. Edward’s University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Edward’s University is $20,024 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Saint Edward’s University
Baylor University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Baylor also took the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $29,849 for Southwest Region 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 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 Baylor University
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Natural Resources & Conservation students with family income $75-$110k in the Southwest Region
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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