by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resources Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 55 schools to find where natural resources conservation graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The natural resources conservation program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Natural Resources Conservation Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its natural resources conservation graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Natural Resources Conservation Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose natural resources conservation graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 for natural resources conservation graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,038.
Webster University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Webster University earn a median of about $89,758 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Yale University one of the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Yale University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,750.
A rank of #4 makes University Of San Francisco one of the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $91,453 a year early in their careers.
American University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from American University typically earn about $82,829 annually.
Duke University landed the #6 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,491.
California State University Fullerton placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,811.
George Mason University came in at #8 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,524.
University Of Houston Clear Lake placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a public school located in the city of Houston. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from University Of Houston Clear Lake make a median of around $74,180 per year.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,414.
Harvard University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Harvard University earn a median of about $72,276 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,082.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,468.
Arizona State University earned the #14 position for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Arizona State University make a median of around $75,879 per year.
Arizona State University Skysong ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,879.
University Of Idaho came in at #16 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from University Of Idaho make a median of around $68,029 per year.
Monterey Institute Of International Studies landed the #17 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey, Monterey Institute Of International Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Monterey Institute Of International Studies make a median of around $85,093 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #18 position for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $76,347 per year.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #19 position for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $64,831 a year early in their careers.
Humboldt State University came in at #20 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Humboldt State University make a median of around $62,897 per year.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #21 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington typically earn about $74,764 annually.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University typically earn about $60,816 annually.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #23 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $60,738 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wyoming placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. University Of Wyoming is a public school located in the town of Laramie. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of about $79,628 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #25 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of about $60,165 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid natural resources conservation ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries natural resources conservation graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 55 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
