Natural Resource Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resource economics programs.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best natural resource economics schools.
Choosing a Great Natural Resource Economics School
The natural resource economics program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Natural Resource Economics Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Natural Resource Economics School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Natural Resource Economics Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Natural Resource Economics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Natural Resource Economics in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the natural resource economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in natural resource economics. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 166 natural resource economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Economics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
Read more about the natural resource economics program at University Of California Berkeley
Michigan State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resource economics, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 18 natural resource economics degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Economics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $48,967 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,755 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resource economics program at Michigan State University
University Of Rhode Island came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best natural resource economics schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 43 natural resource economics degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resource economics degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $49,527. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural resource economics details for University Of Rhode Island
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resource economics, ranking #4. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 natural resource economics degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource economics program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resource economics program at Loyola University Chicago
Oregon State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best natural resource economics schools. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 18 natural resource economics students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resource economics program make about $48,349 in their early career. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $34,429 in student loans.
Read more about the natural resource economics program at Oregon State University
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 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).
