2026 Best Value Conservation Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Conservation Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/conservation-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for conservation biology students.
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2026 Best Value Conservation Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the conservation biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Conservation Biology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best value for a degree in conservation biology in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Conservation Biology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $28,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in conservation biology will find it at Central Michigan University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Conservation Biology graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Conservation Biology graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for conservation biology. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for conservation biology graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Loyola University Chicago earned it the #4 place for conservation biology. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Conservation Biology graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Conservation Biology graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
