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2022 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

22 Ranked Colleges
1,872 Degrees Awarded
$13,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Natural Resources Conservation is the 50th most popular major in the country with 22,202 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Southwest region, there were 1,872 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,633 and $25,772 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources conservation. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality natural resources conservation programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the natural resources conservation program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 ’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

UT Rio Grande Valley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $3,473 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Rio Grande Valley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 293 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M College Station is $13,270 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Texas A&M College Station

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 28 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $9,962 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at OSU

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #4 spot on the list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 221 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Tempe is $8,921 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Arizona State University - Tempe

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 56 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $13,326 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Texas Tech University

#6

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 18 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston is $9,925 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Houston

University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UH Clear Lake is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 ’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

UH Clear Lake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,941 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UH Clear Lake.

Full UH Clear Lake Natural Resources Conservation Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 65 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $11,109 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#9

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school awarded 139 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,466 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Arizona.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Arizona

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 103 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,292 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas State.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Texas State University

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, SFASU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $10,816 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at SFASU

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. UOPX - Arizona is a large private for-profit school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 150 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UOPX - Arizona has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Arizona is $13,378 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UOPX - Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 7 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also took the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Main Campus is $7,006 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at NMSU Main Campus

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 122 ’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, NAU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,799 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend NAU.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at NAU

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 26 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $12,974 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at UT Arlington

With a ranking of #16, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Commerce, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas A&M Commerce has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,580 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M Commerce.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Natural Resources Conservation Report

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Oklahoma is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 64 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $17,285 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Natural Resources Conservation Report

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 73 degrees to qualified ’s conservation students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $12,020 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at ASU - Skysong

#18

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 57 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas A&M Corpus Christi has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Corpus Christi is $16,393 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

#19

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Southwestern University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southwestern University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Georgetown, Texas. It awarded 11 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern also took the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern is $21,578 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 Southwestern University

#20

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas

Saint Edward’s University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Edward’s University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 15 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Edward’s University has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Edward’s University is $20,024 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at St. Edward’s University

#21

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tarleton is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 9 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton State University is $17,132 for southwest region conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Tarleton State University

#22

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #22, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Baylor University is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 38 ’s conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $29,849 for Southwest Region Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Baylor 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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