2023 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in California
26
Ranked Colleges
4,046
Degrees Awarded
$11,900
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Natural Resources & Conservation is the 25th most popular major in the country with 30,503 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 4,046 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,789 and $19,882 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 26 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 616 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $8,450 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Berkeley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 101 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
UCLA also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,037 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UCLA Natural Resources & Conservation Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 370 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
UC Davis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Davis is $10,006 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Davis
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 470 students in 2020-2021.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $10,568 for california 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 undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 UCSB
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 56 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $6,540 for California 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Irvine
San Diego State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 109 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
SDSU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $7,169 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SDSU
With a ranking of #7, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - San Diego is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 83 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,823 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - San Diego Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 227 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
UC Santa Cruz also took the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Santa Cruz is $11,038 for california 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 undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad 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 University of California - Santa Cruz
University of California - Riverside ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 44 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $6,810 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Riverside
San Jose State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
San Jose State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $12,158 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Jose State University.
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 undergrad 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at San Jose State University
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California. It awarded 87 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUMB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend CSUMB is $9,192 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Monterey Bay
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 153 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,173 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,663 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Long Beach Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 57 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,163 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sac State.
The low undergrad 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 California State University - Sacramento
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 22 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State East Bay also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,975 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - East Bay.
The low undergrad 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Cal State East Bay
San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 73 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, SFSU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Francisco State University is $10,705 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SFSU
Humboldt State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Humboldt State University is located in Arcata, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 332 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Humboldt State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Humboldt State University is $11,473 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Humboldt State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Occidental College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oxy is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 32 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Oxy also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $14,452 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Occidental College.
The low undergrad 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Occidental College
California State University - Chico landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chico State is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Chico State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chico State is $11,754 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Chico
California State University - San Marcos ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 52 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $9,397 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 CSUSM Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Sonoma State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Sonoma State University is $12,803 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Sonoma State University
With a ranking of #22, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Clara University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Clara, California. It awarded 46 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SCU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $26,428 for california natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Santa Clara University.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Santa Clara University
University of Redlands did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Redlands is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Redlands, California. It awarded 36 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Redlands, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $20,409 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Redlands
University of San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. USD is located in San Diego, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
USD also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of San Diego is $21,951 for California Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at USD
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