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2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

43 Ranked Colleges
3,064 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Natural Resources Conservation is the 49th most popular major in the country with 22,254 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, natural resources conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,963 and had an average of $23,098 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,064 natural resources conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,465 and $23,360 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 43 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources Conservation (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 310 degrees to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $10,481 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full U-M Natural Resources Conservation Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 444 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $10,364 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Madison

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Purdue

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s conservation degrees to 107 students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at IU Bloomington

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 158 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, Ohio State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $13,273 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Ohio State

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 61 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

UW - Green Bay also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $13,258 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

8

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 27 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

UIS also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend UIS is $11,492 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Full UIS Natural Resources Conservation Report

9
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #9, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 33 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,158 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Ball State Natural Resources Conservation Report

10

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 19 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $12,398 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Michigan - Dearborn

11
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $12,008 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Oakland Natural Resources Conservation Report

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 34 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - River Falls did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - River Falls.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

13
Vincennes University crest
Vincennes University
Vincennes, Indiana

Vincennes University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Vincennes, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s conservation degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Vincennes University is $13,047 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Vincennes University

14
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 41 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $15,720 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Central Michigan

15

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 60 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $15,277 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at GVSU

16

Michigan Technological University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Michigan Tech is $11,794 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 86%.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Michigan Tech

17

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 11 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,754 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Youngstown State University.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at Youngstown State University

18
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marquette, Michigan. It awarded 52 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Northern Michigan University also made our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $16,017 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Northern Michigan University Natural Resources Conservation Report

19

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,499 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at SIUC

20

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,560 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

21
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 76 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, Michigan State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,557 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Michigan State.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State University Natural Resources Conservation Report

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 27 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,226 for great lakes region conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Full UW - Whitewater Natural Resources Conservation Report

23

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s conservation students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UM Flint is $13,218 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at UM Flint

24

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,247 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Stout Natural Resources Conservation Report

25

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 14 ’s conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $14,157 for Great Lakes Region Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Natural Resources Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

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