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2026 Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Master’s Degree Schools

[Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/natural-resource-recreation-and-tourism/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resource recreation & tourism education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value natural resource recreation & tourism schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Master’s Degree Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools
• Other Degree Levels

2026 Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resource recreation & tourism, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools

1

Colorado State University Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO

$13,373 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,843 Avg Student Debt

$60,543 Median Earnings (10yr)

Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #1 spot for value among natural resource recreation & tourism schools in the United States. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resource recreation & tourism degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $43,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.

2

Arizona State University Skysong
Scottsdale, AZ

$11,627 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,742 Avg Student Debt

$62,668 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University Skysong earned it the #2 place for natural resource recreation & tourism. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates carry a median of $23,742 in student loans. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $55,793 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.

Other Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism rankings across degree levels:

View All Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 22 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.