by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resources Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resources-conservation/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a natural resources conservation degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools.
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Below are the schools whose natural resources conservation graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Oberlin College the top school for natural resources conservation graduate earnings in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Oberlin College make a median of around $48,762 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Michigan State University earned it the #2 place for natural resources conservation. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,549.
Denison University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in natural resources conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Denison University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Denison University typically earn about $63,744 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $58,110 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Purdue University Global earned it the #5 place for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Purdue University Global typically earn about $44,408 annually.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #6 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of about $44,548 a year early in their careers.
Ball State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Ball State University make a median of around $57,266 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #8 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public school located in the town of Whitewater. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of about $51,657 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,105.
Oakland University landed the #10 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,419.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,553.
Vincennes University came in at #12 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Vincennes University is a public school located in the town of Vincennes. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,911.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #13 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $53,208 a year early in their careers.
Northern Illinois University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Northern Illinois University typically earn about $48,605 annually.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,939.
Cleveland State University landed the #16 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Cleveland State University typically earn about $49,911 annually.
Augustana College Illinois placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from Augustana College Illinois make a median of around $47,186 per year.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University typically earn about $53,725 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #19 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,496.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #20 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a public institution. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of about $50,598 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #21 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the natural resources conservation program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,989.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $53,967 annually.
University Of Toledo landed the #23 spot for natural resources conservation salaries this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. Early-career natural resources conservation graduates from University Of Toledo make a median of around $47,505 per year.
Grand Valley State University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for natural resources conservation. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $46,296 annually.
Depaul University came in at #25 for natural resources conservation graduate earnings this year. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $53,761 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning natural resources conservation graduates:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their natural resources conservation graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 39 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.