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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Rocky Mountains Region

6 Ranked Colleges
35 Degrees Awarded
$26,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,082 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,144 and $25,086 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 35 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,140 and $97,138 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking looked at 6 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region”.

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.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region.

Top 6 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Rocky Mountains Region

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Utah State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Logan, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region doctor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, USU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Utah State University are $22,598.

Full Utah State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#2

Montana State University

Bozeman, Montana
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montana State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Montana State University is a fairly large public school situated in Bozeman, Montana. It awarded 10 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Bozeman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Montana State University are $21,446, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Montana State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Montana. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region. UM is a medium-sized school located in Missoula, Montana that handed out 10 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region doctor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, UM has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Montana are $23,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Montana

#4

University of Idaho

Moscow, Idaho
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Idaho. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in Moscow, Idaho, this fairly large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

U of I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Idaho are $29,112.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at U of I

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado State is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region doctor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Colorado State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State University - Fort Collins are $28,055, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Colorado State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. CU - Boulder is a large school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 2 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

CU - Boulder also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CU - Boulder are $32,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Colorado Boulder

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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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