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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

20 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$28,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 26th most popular major in the country with 30,341 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Great Lakes region, there were 4,152 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,081 and $25,321 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 497 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality natural resources and conservation programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school. 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 Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students with aid.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full U-M Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s 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. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 64 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Madison

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UIS

#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UW - Green Bay also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay are $19,126.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Green Bay

#15 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 4 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UM Dearborn

#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 15 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students with aid list, Michigan Tech has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Michigan Tech

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ball State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point are $19,178.

Full UW - Stevens Point Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Michigan State

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 14 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 15 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#16

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

Cleveland State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622.

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

#17

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students with aid list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UChicago

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students with aid list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Miami University - Oxford Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 8 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#20

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago, Illinois 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 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at DePaul

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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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