2026 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools in Minnesota
[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 33 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 Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools
Our analysis ranked Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College the best value for a degree in natural resources conservation in Minnesota. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Crookston one of the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,288 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $21,380. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $37,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Crookston admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources conservation will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $42,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Bemidji State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $39,195. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources conservation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $26,894 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $33,565. That is a strong return on a $26,894 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #6 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University earned the #7 position for value in natural resources conservation this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $30,822 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $54,195 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
St Olaf College placed #8 among the best values for natural resources conservation. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,455 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $29,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources conservation schools. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the natural resources conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $38,024. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Carleton College landed the #10 spot for natural resources conservation value this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $17,566. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $45,096. Set against $17,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 20%.
Macalester College earned the #11 position for value in natural resources conservation this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,104. Typical student debt for natural resources conservation graduates is $19,000. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates make about $29,559. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #12 spot for natural resources conservation value this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Natural Resources Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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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 · 33 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.
