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2026 Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools in Illinois

[Natural Resource Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resource management education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resource management students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resource management degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools

1

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

$69,324 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,854 Avg Student Debt

$91,885 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best value for a degree in natural resource management in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Natural Resource Management graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

2

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

$53,710 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,521 Avg Student Debt

$71,530 Median Earnings (10yr)

Loyola University Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resource management schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Natural Resource Management graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Natural Resource Management graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.

View All Natural Resource Management 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 · 5 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.