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

28 Ranked Colleges
1,021 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States 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 has developed its “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Plains States region, there were 1,352 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,043 and $33,930 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,021 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 28 colleges that offer 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the natural resources conservation program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington University in St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $5,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full WUSTL Natural Resources Conservation Report

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 124 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,266 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UMN Twin Cities Natural Resources Conservation Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Crookston. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Crookston, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Crookston is $5,832 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UMN Crookston

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Morris. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Morris, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $4,230 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Morris.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UMN Morris

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $10,054 for Plains States 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 89%.

Full Iowa State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 36 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#7

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#19 in overall quality

Valley City State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Valley City State University is a public institution located in Valley City, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $7,026 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Valley City State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Valley City State University

#8

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

St Olaf College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 St Olaf College

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #9, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full St. Cloud State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

With a ranking of #10, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 79 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $12,216 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 85%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Natural Resources Conservation Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Natural Resources Conservation Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Minnesota State Mankato

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Missouri - Columbia

#14

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota

Saint Johns University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Collegeville, Minnesota, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,683 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SJU.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at SJU

#15

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Macalester College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Macalester is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 18 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,158 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester College.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Macalester College

#16

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $15,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at South Dakota State University

#17

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Iowa

#18

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#19

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus College is $12,150 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Natural Resources Conservation Report

#20

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $12,065 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#21

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kansas State University is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $14,232 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at K -State

#22

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas 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 KU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,387 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Kansas.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Kansas

#23

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,396 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Report

#24

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #24, Luther College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Luther is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Luther also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Luther is $16,636 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Luther College

#25

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Des Moines, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Drake also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Drake is $25,212 for plains states region bachelor’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Drake University

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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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