2023 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
42
Ranked Colleges
4,118
Degrees Awarded
$15,100
Avg Net Price*
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 30,503 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 25th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,118 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,801 and $23,385 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 42 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 312 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid per year to attend U-M.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at U-M
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full IU Bloomington Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Out of the 42 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 491 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,234 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend UW - Madison.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 124 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid per year to attend Purdue.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Green Bay also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $13,092 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend UW - Green Bay.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Green Bay
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 295 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ball State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $14,765 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Ball State
With a ranking of #9, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 196 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Michigan State University
Vincennes University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Vincennes, Indiana, this fairly large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,518 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend Vincennes University.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Vincennes University
University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIS is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 27 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $12,034 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Springfield Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 235 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Ohio State
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 34 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also took the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,844 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - River Falls
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Michigan - Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $12,855 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UM Dearborn Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Michigan Technological University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Michigan Tech also took the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Technological University is $15,384 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Michigan Technological University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend GVSU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at GVSU
Central Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
The undergrad 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 Central Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 66 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Oakland University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid per year to attend Oakland University.
The low undergrad 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 Oakland Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #21, Hocking College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Hocking Technical College is a small school located in Nelsonville, Ohio that handed out 101 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,372 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend Hocking College.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Hocking College
Northland College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Ashland, Wisconsin, and it awarded 39 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid list, Northland has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,936 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid per year to attend Northland.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Northland College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Carbondale, Illinois 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 2020-2021.
SIUC also took the #25 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,285 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
With a ranking of #24, Lake Superior State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lake Superior State University is $13,668 for Great Lakes Region Natural Resources & Conservation students with aid.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Lake Superior State University
With a ranking of #25, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $16,943 for great lakes region natural resources & conservation students with aid per year to attend Cleveland State University.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Cleveland State University
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