2026 Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Natural Resource Economics](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/natural-resource-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resource economics education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resource economics students.
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2026 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 2026 list of the best value natural resource economics schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Typical student debt for natural resource economics graduates is $22,132. Early-career natural resource economics graduates make about $40,553. Set against $22,132 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resource economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Natural Resource Economics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Natural Resource Economics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place for natural resource economics. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $21,755 to complete the natural resource economics program here. Natural Resource Economics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $48,967 early in their careers. Set against $21,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Loyola University Chicago earned it the #4 place for natural resource economics. 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. Typical student debt for natural resource economics graduates is $23,521. Soon after graduation, natural resource economics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. 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
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 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.
