2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in Georgia

[Natural Resources Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 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 Georgia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools
University Of North Georgia tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools in Georgia. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,444 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,439 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $44,124. Set against $21,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources conservation will find it at Georgia Gwinnett College, which ranked #2. Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,532, while out-of-state students pay about $13,844. Students borrow a median of $21,280 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Georgia Gwinnett College earn a median of $55,992 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,280 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $21,792. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes College Of Coastal Georgia one of the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Brunswick, College Of Coastal Georgia is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,616, compared with $10,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $19,240. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of College Of Coastal Georgia earn a median of $40,858 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,240 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Kennesaw State University one of the best values for natural resources conservation. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $27,004. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $53,824. That is a strong return on a $27,004 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University came in at #6 for value in natural resources conservation this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,186, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $23,114. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $35,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia College And State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Berry College came in at #7 for value in natural resources conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,486 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Berry College earn a median of $50,785 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Emory University landed the #8 spot for natural resources conservation value this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $23,172. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $21,227. That is a strong return on a $23,172 median debt. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.