2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Master’s in California” 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 California, there were 4,073 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,215 and $22,557 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 425 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources and conservation programs and 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.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Master’s in California”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 79 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Berkeley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 74 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, UCSB has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Davis are $28,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of California - Davis Natural Resources & Conservation Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 10 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at San Jose State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Irvine
Humboldt State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Humboldt State University is located in Arcata, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 41 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Humboldt State University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Humboldt State University
With a ranking of #7, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
CSUSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - San Bernardino
California State University - Monterey Bay came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California. It awarded 7 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUMB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUMB are $18,081.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at CSUMB
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Chico ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. Chico State is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 3 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Chico State
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #12, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 31 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, USFCA has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710.
University of San Diego landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. USD is located in San Diego, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, USD has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USD are $28,410.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of San Diego
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Monterey, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
Middlebury Institute not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey are $42,804, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #15, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, USC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Southern California
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Natural Resources & Conservation students with family income $75-$110k in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in California
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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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