2027 Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Natural Resource Economics](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/natural-resource-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural resource economics schools.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resource economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point tops our 2027 list of the best value natural resource economics schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Natural Resource Economics graduates carry a median of $22,132 in student loans. Early-career natural resource economics graduates make about $40,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #2 place for natural resource economics. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $21,755 to complete the natural resource economics program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource economics degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $48,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resource economics will find it at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the natural resource economics program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource economics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
