2026 Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools in Colorado
Natural Resources Conservation degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources conservation programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources conservation students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Natural Resources Conservation in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall natural resources conservation education in Colorado.
Top Schools in Natural Resources Conservation
Leading the list is University Of Colorado Boulder, our #1 school for natural resources conservation. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 281 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $44,268. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources conservation program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $46,454 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,140.
See the full natural resources conservation program report for Colorado State University Fort Collins
Students looking for a strong natural resources conservation program will find one at University Of Denver, which ranked #3. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. University Of Denver awarded about 23 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $39,017 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,899 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources conservation program report for University Of Denver
Students looking for a strong natural resources conservation program will find one at Mesa State College, which ranked #4. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Mesa State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from Mesa State College earn around $43,617 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources conservation program report for Mesa State College
Front Range Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Front Range Community College awarded about 23 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources conservation program at Front Range Community College
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. About 46% of students finish within six years. University Of Colorado Denver awarded about 14 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of Colorado Denver earn around $52,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,582.
Read more about the natural resources conservation program at University Of Colorado Denver
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. About 31% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State College Of Denver in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,236 early in their careers. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates carry a median of $25,370 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources conservation from Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Colorado College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. Colorado College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Colorado College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $17,372 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Get the full natural resources conservation details for Colorado College
Fort Lewis College landed the #9 spot for natural resources conservation this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Durango. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 48 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Fort Lewis College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $22,541. Typical student debt for the program is $21,477.
Read more about the natural resources conservation program at Fort Lewis College
Western State College Of Colorado earned the #10 position for natural resources conservation this year. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 44 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Western State College Of Colorado in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $31,739 in their early career. Western State College Of Colorado graduates carry a median of $21,612 in student loans.
See the full natural resources conservation program report for Western State College Of Colorado
More Natural Resources Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.
- 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.
