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

20 Ranked Colleges
497 Degrees Awarded
$28,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 the Great Lakes 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 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” 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 the Great Lakes Region”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

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

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#11 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 that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

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

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Green Bay

#8 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 that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #3 spot on the list. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Michigan Technological University

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Springfield

#5

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, Indiana
#20 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 that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Global landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Purdue University Global also took the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue University Global

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 11 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 UW - Stevens Point are $19,178.

Full UW - Stevens Point Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #7 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 Purdue are $28,794.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Cleveland State University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 11 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 list, Cleveland State University has also earned the #18 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 Cleveland State University are $17,622.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Cleveland State University

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#15 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Michigan - 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UM Dearborn Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 17 masters’s natural resources and conservation 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UWM

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

DePaul also took 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at OHIO Athens

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#10 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford 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 ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 10 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 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 Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.

Full Miami University - Oxford Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#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 ranking, coming in at #17. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUC Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students 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 University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#19

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#1 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 129 students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full U-M Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#20

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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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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