2026 Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools in Illinois
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resource economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Natural Resource Economics Schools in Illinois
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 Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among natural resource economics schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Natural Resource Economics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resource economics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resource economics will find it at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #2. 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. Natural Resource Economics graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Natural Resource Economics 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. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
