2026 Best Natural Resource Management Schools in Illinois

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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools to find the best for natural resource management students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Natural Resource Management Schools in Illinois

Best Schools for Natural Resource Management in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall natural resource management education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Natural Resource Management

1

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

39 Natural Resource Management Degrees Awarded

$81,002 Median Starting Salary

University Of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best natural resource management schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 39 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resource management program at University Of Chicago

2

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

29 Natural Resource Management Degrees Awarded

$58,568 Median Starting Salary

Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resource management, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 29 natural resource management students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Natural Resource Management graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resource management from Loyola University Chicago

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.