2027 Best Value Natural Resources Management & Policy Master’s Degree Schools

[Natural Resources Management & Policy](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/natural-resources-management-and-policy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources management & policy education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural resources management & policy schools.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resources Management & Policy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources management & policy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources Management & Policy Schools
Our analysis ranked American Public University System the best value for a degree in natural resources management & policy in the United States. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources management & policy schools. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Students borrow a median of $22,132 to complete the natural resources management & policy program here. Early-career natural resources management & policy graduates make about $40,553. That is a strong return on a $22,132 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources management & policy, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the natural resources management & policy program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $49,865. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources management & policy schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Typical student debt for natural resources management & policy graduates is $19,835. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $49,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Oregon State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources management & policy schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $34,429 to complete the natural resources management & policy program here. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $57,275 early in their careers. Set against $34,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #6 among the best values for natural resources management & policy. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $43,262 early in their careers. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island placed #7 among the best values for natural resources management & policy. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career natural resources management & policy graduates make about $54,608. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #8 position for value in natural resources management & policy this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical student debt for natural resources management & policy graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $71,291. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources management & policy schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete the natural resources management & policy program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Denver came in at #10 for value in natural resources management & policy this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $69,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University placed #11 among the best values for natural resources management & policy. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources management & policy graduates is $23,008. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
University Of Miami came in at #12 for value in natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the natural resources management & policy program here. Early-career natural resources management & policy graduates make about $41,886. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Other Natural Resources Management & Policy Degree Levels
Explore the best-value natural resources management & policy schools at other degree levels:
View All Natural Resources Management & Policy Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.