2023 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region
25
Ranked Colleges
1,809
Degrees Awarded
$18,400
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Plains States Region” ranking.
Natural Resources & Conservation is the 25th most popular major in the country with 30,503 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 Plains States region, there were 1,809 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,184 and $23,681 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 25 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 in the Plains States Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region natural resources & conservation students list, South Dakota State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,578 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend South Dakota State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full South Dakota State Natural Resources & Conservation Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Webster University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Webster also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Webster University is $23,248 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
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%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Webster University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 42 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $16,998 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at North Dakota State University
Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $18,505 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UMN Duluth.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Duluth
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.
Iowa State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $16,002 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Iowa State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Iowa State Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #6, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region natural resources & conservation students list, Bemidji State University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,033 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Bemidji State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Bemidji State University
University of Minnesota - Crookston ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 17 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
UMN Crookston also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend UMN Crookston is $11,593 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Full University of Minnesota - Crookston Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Saint Cloud State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,581 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Saint Cloud State University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,013 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL
Valley City State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Valley City State University is located in Valley City, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Valley City State University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Valley City State University is $11,676 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Valley City State University
University of Minnesota - Morris did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Morris, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
UMN Morris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $10,529 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Morris
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,925 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Northwest.
Full Northwest Missouri State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 237 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Twin Cities
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. KU is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 59 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $20,257 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Kansas Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,718 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Missouri State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,559 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 89%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Mizzou
University of Iowa ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 64 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,401 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students per year to attend University of Iowa.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Iowa
University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 18 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $15,702 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
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%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Missouri - Kansas City
With a ranking of #19, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region natural resources & conservation students list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,914 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend UNOMAHA.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #20, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 14 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIU, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Upper Iowa University is $24,063 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Full UIU Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #21, Luther College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Decorah, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Luther also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Luther is $25,538 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Luther
Saint Johns University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Collegeville, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
SJU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Johns University is $25,487 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 SJU Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #23, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
Gustavus Adolphus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus is $24,696 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Gustavus Adolphus
St Olaf College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 33 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Olaf also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $24,052 for Plains States Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend St Olaf College.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at St Olaf College
Macalester College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Macalester College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 19 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Macalester also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Macalester is $27,764 for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%.
Full Macalester College Natural Resources & Conservation Report
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