2026 Best Value Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Master’s Degree Schools
[Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/water-wetlands-and-marine-resources-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for water, wetlands, & marine resources management students.
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2026 Best Value Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the water, wetlands, & marine resources management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Schools
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #1 spot for value among water, wetlands, & marine resources management schools in the United States. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Early-career water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates make about $46,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in water, wetlands, & marine resources management will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Soon after graduation, water, wetlands, & marine resources management degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $37,701. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Students looking for strong value in water, wetlands, & marine resources management will find it at Oregon State University, which ranked #3. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates is $34,429. Early-career water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates make about $57,275. That is a strong return on a $34,429 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value water, wetlands, & marine resources management schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates is $21,815. Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $30,362 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,815 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for water, wetlands, & marine resources management. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates is $22,843. Soon after graduation, water, wetlands, & marine resources management degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $43,262. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #6 among the best values for water, wetlands, & marine resources management. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates is $23,393. Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Miami earned the #7 position for value in water, wetlands, & marine resources management this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Typical student debt for water, wetlands, & marine resources management graduates is $17,750. Soon after graduation, water, wetlands, & marine resources management degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $41,886. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
Other Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Degree Levels
Explore the best-value water, wetlands, & marine resources management schools at other degree levels:
View All Water, Wetlands, & Marine Resources Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
