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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

70 Ranked Colleges
4,366 Degrees Awarded
$6,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 26th most popular major in the country with 30,341 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,196 and had an average of $25,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 6,355 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,049 and $23,759 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,366 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 70 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources and conservation. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality natural resources and conservation programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 70 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duke is $-7,808 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Duke University

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 70 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 149 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $1,994 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Florida

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 141 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNC Chapel Hill has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,026 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#4

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 70 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 161 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,360 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Florida State University

#5

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 70 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 212 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

NC State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $7,285 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NC State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at North Carolina State University

#6

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#2 in overall quality

Emory University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emory University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 38 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Emory has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,468 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emory.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Emory

#14 in overall quality

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 131 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $3,950 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#8

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

St Petersburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. SPC is a large public school situated in Clearwater, Florida. It awarded 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,454 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St Petersburg College.

Full St Petersburg College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida
#25 in overall quality

The University of West Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWF, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of West Florida is $4,140 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UWF

Florida International University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Florida International University

#11

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Kentucky University is $4,156 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Kentucky University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#6 in overall quality

American Public University System came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 311 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

American Military University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $10,013 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend American Public University System.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full American Public University System Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of North Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Georgia is located in Dahlonega, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNG has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Georgia is $7,650 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNG

#14

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Marshall University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marshall University is located in Huntington, West Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,770 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Marshall University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Marshall University

#15

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Boone, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 104 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,169 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Appalachian State.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Appalachian State

#16

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#18 in overall quality

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 89 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UGA has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $7,541 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UGA

#17

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#4 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 76 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $8,882 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Virginia Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#7 in overall quality

Virginia Tech landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 222 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $11,138 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Virginia Tech Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

With a ranking of #19, McNeese State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. McNeese State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 8 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for McNeese is $11,892 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at McNeese

#20

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Florida Gulf Coast University is a fairly large school located in Fort Myers, Florida that handed out 115 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Florida Gulf Coast University is $7,824 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Florida Gulf Coast University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Tifton, Georgia, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is $4,838 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $8,108 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UT Chattanooga Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#23

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Asheville landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Carolina at Asheville is a small school located in Asheville, North Carolina that handed out 58 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,063 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNCA.

Full UNCA Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#24

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, North Carolina

With a ranking of #24, University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Pembroke, North Carolina, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNC Pembroke is $8,282 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

#25

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,068 for southeast region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shepherd University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Shepherd University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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