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2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

60 Ranked Colleges
3,073 Degrees Awarded
$7,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 22,202 people earned their degree in natural resources conservation, making the major the 50th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, natural resources conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,654 and had an average of $25,969 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 3,933 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,080 and $22,811 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,073 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 60 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources conservation programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Duke is $-7,808 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Duke University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 38 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $1,994 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Florida.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Florida

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 141 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $4,026 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#4

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 161 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,360 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Florida State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#5

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Emory also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Emory University is $11,468 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Emory Natural Resources Conservation Report

#6

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 129 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

NC State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NC State is $7,285 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at NC State

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 131 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, USF Tampa has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $3,950 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at USF Tampa

#8

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. The University of West Florida is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

UWF also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UWF is $4,140 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UWF

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida International University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full FIU Natural Resources Conservation Report

#10

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia

With a ranking of #10, American Public University System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. American Public University System is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 311 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $10,013 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend American Public University System.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at American Public University System

#10

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NKU is $4,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at NKU

#12

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Virginia Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $11,138 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Virginia Tech

#13

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

University of North Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Dahlonega, Georgia, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UNG did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Georgia is $7,650 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of North Georgia

#14

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Marshall University is $5,770 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Marshall University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#15

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 104 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State is $7,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Appalachian State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#16

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 76 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

University of Virginia also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $8,882 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Virginia

#17

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and it awarded 76 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida Gulf Coast University is $7,824 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at FGCU

#17

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UGA also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $7,541 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Georgia

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 38 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,108 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at UT Chattanooga

#20

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Asheville ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNCA is a public institution located in Asheville, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNCA is $8,063 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of North Carolina at Asheville

#21

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. UNC Pembroke is a medium-sized school located in Pembroke, North Carolina that handed out 15 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,282 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNC Pembroke.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

#22

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,068 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shepherd University.

Full Shepherd University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#23

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UofSC is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UofSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Carolina - Columbia is $12,426 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Natural Resources Conservation Report

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

Louisiana State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Louisiana State University is $8,433 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Natural Resources Conservation Report

#25

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tulane is located in New Orleans, Louisiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Tulane did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $23,968 for southeast region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tulane University of Louisiana.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Tulane Natural Resources Conservation Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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