2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in Vermont
[Natural Resources Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources conservation education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources conservation students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in Vermont
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools
For return on investment in natural resources conservation, no school beat University Of Vermont this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $21,632. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $26,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Community College Of Vermont is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,640. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $12,125. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $34,182. Set against $12,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Vermont Technical College one of the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $24,208. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Vermont Technical College generally make around $39,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middlebury College earned it the #4 place for natural resources conservation. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,600. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $50,834. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Saint Michaels College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources conservation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Colchester, Saint Michaels College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,450. Students borrow a median of $26,980 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $33,658. That is a strong return on a $26,980 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
More Natural Resources Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
