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2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

272 Ranked Colleges
30,503 Degrees Awarded
$14,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

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” 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 & 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.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking looked at 272 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources & conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources & conservation programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources & conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

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More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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”.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools.

Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation

1
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #1 on our 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Charles Town, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 490 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, American Military University is in the top on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for American Military University is $10,563 for natural resources & conservation students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at American Public University System

2
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Out of the 272 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Webster University landed the #2 spot on the list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

Webster also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Webster is $23,248 for 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

3
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

South Dakota State excels when it comes to natural resources & conservation quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 South Dakota State University

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools. UOPX - Arizona is a large school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 142 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona is $13,038 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UOPX - Arizona

5

Out of the 272 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 42 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,998 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

6

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 295 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,346 for natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

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

7

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 61 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $13,092 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Natural Resources & Conservation Report

8

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $18,505 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

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

9

Arizona State University - Skysong ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 106 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Skysong

10
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Florida State University is a large public school situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It awarded 155 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida State excels when it comes to natural resources & conservation quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $9,946 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Florida State University

11

Iowa State University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 135 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Iowa State also did well on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $16,002 for natural resources & conservation students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa State University

12

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

13
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 81 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $11,085 for natural resources & conservation students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wyoming

14

University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 17 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Crookston is $11,593 for natural resources & conservation students.

Full University of Minnesota - Crookston Natural Resources & Conservation Report

15

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. UW - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls Natural Resources & Conservation Report

16
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 48 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,033 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Bemidji State University

17

With a ranking of #17, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 142 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,346 for natural resources & conservation students per year to attend USF Tampa.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

19
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 60 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,356 for natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Grand Valley 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at GVSU

20
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, this large public school handed out 152 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

Mississippi State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $16,122 for Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Mississippi State.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Mississippi State

21
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #21. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Central Michigan

22
Hocking Technical College crest
Hocking College
Nelsonville, Ohio

Hocking College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Hocking Technical College is located in Nelsonville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 101 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Hocking Technical College is $14,372 for natural resources & conservation students.

Full Hocking College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

23

Utah State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 112 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,257 for natural resources & conservation students per year to attend USU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Utah State University

24
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 333 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.

NC State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NC State is $16,411 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at NC State

25
Skagit Valley College crest
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon, Washington

Skagit Valley College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Skagit Valley College is a public institution located in Mount Vernon, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Skagit Valley College is $6,988 for Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Skagit Valley College

Rest of the Best 41 in Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
27
29
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, IN
30
31
32
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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