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

12 Ranked Colleges
495 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Minnesota, there were 667 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,420 and $20,060 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 495 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,526 and $26,035 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources and conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources and conservation programs and cost less that 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

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 Minnesota 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in Minnesota

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 170 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $7,266 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 UMN Twin Cities Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Crookston is located in Crookston, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UMN Crookston also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Crookston is $5,832 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Crookston

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Morris has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $4,230 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 University of Minnesota - Morris

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Duluth Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#5

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Olaf College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $12,459 for minnesota 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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Olaf Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $10,688 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full St. Cloud State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#6 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Minnesota State Mankato

#8

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Saint Johns University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Johns University is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, SJU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SJU is $14,683 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Saint Johns University

#9

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Macalester College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Macalester College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Macalester also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $10,158 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Macalester College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Macalester College

#10

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k list. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 24 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $12,150 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Gustavus Adolphus College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 3 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bethel University Minnesota, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $18,396 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Bethel University Minnesota

#12

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $27,460 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of St Thomas Minnesota

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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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