2026 Best Natural Resource Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Natural Resource Management is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best natural resource management schools.
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Best Schools for Natural Resource Management in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall natural resource management education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Natural Resource Management
University Of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best natural resource management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 39 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for natural resource management. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $48,967 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,755.
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Students looking for a strong natural resource management program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 68 natural resource management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resource management degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $35,019 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in natural resource management from Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resource management, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 87 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $40,553. Students borrow a median of $22,132 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resource management, ranking #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 29 natural resource management degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #6 position for natural resource management this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 24 natural resource management degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resource management program make about $46,524 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans.
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Hocking College landed the #7 spot for natural resource management this year. Located in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 41 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at Hocking College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Hocking College generally make around $27,817. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resource management program at Hocking College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
