2025 Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region
37
Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
3,382
Conservation Degrees Awarded
$38,227
Avg Early-Career Salary
Natural Resources Conservation is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #49 most popular degree program in the country. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.
College Factual looked at 37 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 3,382 degrees in natural resources conservation annually.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Natural Resources Conservation School

Your choice of natural resources conservation school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for natural resources conservation schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Natural Resources Conservation Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region list, to help you choose the best school for you.
More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you.
Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Read more about College Factual's methodology.
Best Schools for Natural Resources Conservation in the Great Lakes Region
If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
10 Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Conservation
University of Wisconsin - Madison is a wonderful option for students interested in a degree in natural resources conservation. UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Madison. A Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.
There were approximately 437 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the conservation program report average early career income of $29,238.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in natural resources conservation. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.
There were about 345 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent year we have data available. Natural Resources Conservation degree recipients from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor receive an earnings boost of approximately $7,463 above the average earnings of natural resources conservation majors.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ohio State University - Main Campus is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in natural resources conservation. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #70 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Ohio State is a great university overall.
There were roughly 213 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the conservation program earn an average of $39,545 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Ohio State University - Main Campus
Any student who is interested in natural resources conservation needs to take a look at Michigan State University. Michigan State is a very large public university located in the city of East Lansing. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Michigan State is a great university overall.
There were about 82 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the conservation program report average early career wages of $37,170.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Michigan State University
Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means IU Bloomington is a great university overall.
There were about 94 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the natural resources conservation program at Indiana University - Bloomington get $5,193 more than the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Indiana University - Bloomington
UIUC is a very large public university located in the city of Champaign. A Best Colleges rank of #41 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UIUC is a great university overall.
There were approximately 119 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the conservation program earn about $31,369 for their early career.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #65 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Purdue is a great university overall.
There were approximately 40 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Purdue in the most recent data year. After graduating, conservation degree recipients generally make about $38,989 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Purdue University - Main Campus
GVSU is a fairly large public university located in the town of Allendale. A Best Colleges rank of #342 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means GVSU is a great university overall.
There were about 102 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at GVSU in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, conservation degree recipients typically make about $32,118 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Grand Valley State University
Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago. A Best Colleges rank of #100 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Loyola Chicago is a great university overall.
There were roughly 107 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the conservation program make about $30,797 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Loyola University Chicago
Located in the remote town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 9th out of 41 schools for overall quality in the state of Indiana.
There were about 29 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Vincennes University in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, conservation degree recipients usually make an average of $32,138 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Vincennes University