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2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

23 Ranked Colleges
1,823 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 30,341 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 26th most popular in the United States. 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 Southwest region, there were 2,575 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,417 and $24,287 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,823 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UT Rio Grande Valley

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M University - College Station. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 361 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - College Station is $11,454 for southwest 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 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M College Station

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 18 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UH Clear Lake is $4,517 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 105 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Tempe is $7,044 for southwest 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 86%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at ASU - Tempe

#5

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Tech University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $12,317 for southwest 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 87%.

Full Texas Tech University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It awarded 16 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, OSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $8,669 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#7

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#11 in overall quality

University of Arizona ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $10,562 for southwest 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 85%.

Full University of Arizona Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UTSA is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,516 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTSA.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UTSA

#9

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#6 in overall quality

University of Houston ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

UH also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend UH is $10,203 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UH

#14 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 64 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $8,650 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SFASU

#11

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#9 in overall quality

Texas State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Texas State University is $11,125 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3 in overall quality

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 150 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UOPX - Arizona also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UOPX - Arizona is $12,601 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UOPX - Arizona

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $6,896 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M University - Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M Commerce did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $10,013 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas A&M Commerce Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#21 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 140 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NAU is $9,251 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full NAU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend UT Arlington is $11,811 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UT Arlington

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 43 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is $16,675 for southwest 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 87%. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#17 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Arizona State University - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Skysong also took the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Skysong is $12,037 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at ASU - Skysong

#18

New Mexico Highlands University

Las Vegas, New Mexico
#24 in overall quality

New Mexico Highlands University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New Mexico Highlands University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico Highlands University is $8,345 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full New Mexico Highlands University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 47 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $15,501 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

#20

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Tarleton State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Stephenville, Texas, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $15,604 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tarleton State University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Tarleton

#21

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Southwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwestern University is a small school located in Georgetown, Texas that handed out 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwestern University is $20,296 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 Southwestern University

#22

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Saint Edward’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Saint Edward’s University is located in Austin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Edward’s University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $19,126 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Edward’s University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at St. Edward’s University

#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Baylor University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Baylor University is $26,726 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Baylor

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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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