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2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

127 Ranked Colleges
3,062 Degrees Awarded
$36,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master's 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,062 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 127 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources conservation programs, but they also 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources Conservation (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 168 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Yale University

#2

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 136 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Duke University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 195 masters’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Harvard also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Harvard University Natural Resources Conservation Report

#4

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Chicago Natural Resources Conservation Report

#5

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s conservation degrees to 86 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UPenn

With a ranking of #6, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 masters’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UW - Madison

#8

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#20 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 34 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

University of California - Berkeley came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 76 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Natural Resources Conservation Report

#10

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Cornell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cornell is a large school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 4 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also took the #25 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Full Cornell University Natural Resources Conservation Report

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 76 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Columbia

#12

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMCP is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 4 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UMCP

#13

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 64 diplomas to qualified masters’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Natural Resources Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 41 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UW Seattle

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s conservation degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at UIUC

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 19 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Cal State Fullerton

#17

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#24 in overall quality

Emory University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 3 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Emory has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory are $44,676, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Emory University

#18

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#23 in overall quality

North Carolina State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at North Carolina State University

#19

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 30 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UMN Twin Cities

With a ranking of #20, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of California - Irvine

#21

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UWF is a public institution located in Pensacola, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UWF are $24,894, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at UWF

#22

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Tufts University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tufts is a fairly large school located in Medford, Massachusetts that handed out 5 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts are $55,168, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Tufts

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 12 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Florida International University

#24

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Alaska Fairbanks are $24,287, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Alaska Fairbanks Natural Resources Conservation Report

#25

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
Top 25% in overall quality

Northeastern University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 7 masters’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558.

Full Northeastern 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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