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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region

32 Ranked Colleges
1,353 Degrees Awarded
$20,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 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 Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking analyzed 32 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valley City State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. Valley City, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,981 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Valley City State University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Valley City State University

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 118 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation 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. It costs about $15,496 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Iowa State.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa State University

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

South Dakota State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $19,252 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

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%.

Full South Dakota State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k 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 $16,584 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#17 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Nebraska at Omaha. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also took the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $14,040 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 17 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

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

#14 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #7. UMN Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 26 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 more than $110k list, UMN Crookston has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Crookston is $10,952 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Full UMN Crookston Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 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 more than $110k list, UNL has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,208 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL

#11 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #8. Mankato, 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 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,740 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#11

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. Missouri Western is a small public school situated in Saint Joseph, Missouri. It awarded 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western is $10,958 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri Western

University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. UMN Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

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%.

Full UMN Morris Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#25 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri State University - Springfield

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Northwest Missouri State University

#15

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #15. K -State is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 47 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $18,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

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

Full Kansas State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Iowa ranked #15 on this year’s Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 68 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

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

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Iowa

#17

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

With a ranking of #17, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 6 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

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

#18

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #18 on this year’s Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $14,643 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#18 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #19. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 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 more than $110k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #20 on this year’s Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#23 in overall quality

University of Kansas landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 47 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 more than $110k list, KU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend KU is $18,918 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full KU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#22

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Saint Johns University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Saint Johns University is a small school located in Collegeville, Minnesota that handed out 12 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $24,271 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

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 Saint Johns University

#23

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Fayette, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $21,624 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Upper Iowa University.

Full Upper Iowa University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#24

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #24. Saint Peter, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gustavus Adolphus, the school also landed the #6 spot 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 $19,093 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Gustavus Adolphus College

#25

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa
#21 in overall quality

Luther College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 13 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther also took the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Luther College is $23,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make more than $110k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Luther

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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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