Best Schools for Natural Resource Management in the United States
See the highest-ranked natural resource management schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.
Top Schools in Natural Resource Management
Leading the list is Wake Forest University, our #1 school for natural resource management. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 10 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $67,369 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for natural resource management. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 30 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $48,967 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $21,755 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Marist College one of the top schools for natural resource management. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 11 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $60,521 in their early career. Marist College graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resource management, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 136 natural resource management degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $37,126. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Students looking for a strong natural resource management program will find one at Auburn University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #6 spot for natural resource management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 27 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $59,622 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #7 for natural resource management this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 22 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
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Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry placed #8 among the best natural resource management schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 39 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry in the most recent year.
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University Of Rhode Island ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best natural resource management schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $44,445. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #10 spot for natural resource management this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 30 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Natural Resource Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $30,362 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,815.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for natural resource management this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 68 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $35,019 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Miami placed #12 among the best natural resource management schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 124 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $41,886 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #13 among the best natural resource management schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $32,516 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
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California State University Bakersfield ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best natural resource management schools. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. About 50% of students finish within six years. California State University Bakersfield awarded about 10 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best natural resource management schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 45 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $36,040 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,275 to complete this degree.
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Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #16 position for natural resource management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 83 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $43,262. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete this degree.
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Angelo State University placed #17 among the best natural resource management schools. This large public university is located in the city of San Angelo. Angelo State University graduates 44% of students within six years. Angelo State University awarded about 12 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from Angelo State University earn around $46,134 in the first couple years of their career. Angelo State University graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #18 position for natural resource management this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 79 natural resource management degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $40,553 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,132.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #19 for natural resource management this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 29 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wyoming earned the #20 position for natural resource management this year. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from University Of Wyoming earn around $49,890 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,283.
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University Of Vermont came in at #21 for natural resource management this year. This large public university is located in the city of Burlington. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $44,588 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete this degree.
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South Dakota State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best natural resource management schools. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. South Dakota State University awarded about 19 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Management graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete this degree.
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West Virginia University earned the #23 position for natural resource management this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Virginia University awarded about 21 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $47,232 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #24 spot for natural resource management this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Weatherford. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southwestern Oklahoma State University awarded about 20 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Management graduates of Southwestern Oklahoma State University earn a median of $57,280 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,795.
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The University Of Tennessee placed #25 among the best natural resource management schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 10 natural resource management degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $49,826 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 39 Natural Resource Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong natural resource management education:
Other Natural Resource Management Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Natural Resource Management rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 196 schools evaluated.
- 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.
