by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resource Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a natural resource management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying natural resource management schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send natural resource management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in natural resource management, no school beat University Of Maryland College Park this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,244.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in natural resource management, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $91,116 per year.
University Of Denver came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from University Of Denver typically earn about $85,706 annually.
Duke University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in natural resource management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural resource management graduates from Duke University make a median of around $84,677 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Oregon State University one of the highest-paying schools for natural resource management. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,952.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of about $76,170 a year early in their careers.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,608.
University Of Idaho ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,543.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resource management schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,408.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for natural resource management. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Fargo. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,721.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #11 spot for natural resource management salaries this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of about $56,859 a year early in their careers.
Universidad Metropolitana came in at #12 for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Juan, Universidad Metropolitana is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resource Management graduates of Universidad Metropolitana earn a median of about $46,693 a year early in their careers.
University Of Miami earned the #13 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the natural resource management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,785.
Stony Brook University earned the #14 position for natural resource management graduate earnings this year. Stony Brook University is a public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. After graduating, natural resource management degree recipients from Stony Brook University typically earn about $37,701 annually.
Explore the highest-paying natural resource management schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their natural resource management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 14 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
