2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in North Carolina
[Natural Resources Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources conservation education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value natural resources conservation schools.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in North Carolina
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 Carolina At Greensboro earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources conservation schools in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $42,595. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. Students from in state pay about $3,648 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $27,089. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $38,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,089 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources conservation will find it at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $12,044. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $47,071. Set against $12,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Carolina University earned it the #4 place for natural resources conservation. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $44,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Asheville one of the best values for natural resources conservation. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Students borrow a median of $22,880 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $25,758 early in their careers. Set against $22,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $44,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Davidson College placed #7 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,430. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,906 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $27,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina Central University came in at #9 for value in natural resources conservation this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $42,873. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #10 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $33,093 early in their careers. Set against $22,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Catawba College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $25,794. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Catawba College earn a median of $27,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Brevard College placed #12 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,280 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,667 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Brevard College earn a median of $32,122 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,667 median debt. Brevard College admits about 42% of applicants.
Warren Wilson College earned the #13 position for value in natural resources conservation this year. Set in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,500 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,260 ten years after entry. Warren Wilson College admits about 71% of applicants.
Wake Forest University came in at #14 for value in natural resources conservation this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $67,369. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University earned the #15 position for value in natural resources conservation this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $47,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Elon University placed #16 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $21,619. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Set against $21,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elon University admits about 66% of applicants.
More Natural Resources Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
