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

153 Ranked Colleges
4,378 Degrees Awarded
$35,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,378 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 153 colleges that offered a degree in natural resources and conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources and conservation programs, but they also 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.

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 Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 168 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Yale also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Yale University

#2

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 153 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Duke Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 195 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Harvard University

#4

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 70 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also took the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UF Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 153 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 17 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Chicago

#6

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, UPenn has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Pennsylvania

#7 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#8

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMCP Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#24 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UNC Chapel Hill

#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Madison

#11

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
Top 20% in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Cornell excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cornell University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#4 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 79 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Berkeley Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#6 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Columbia University in the City of New York

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#15

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 64 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Indiana University - Bloomington

#16

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#12 in overall quality

University of Georgia landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school awarded 53 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UGA also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Georgia

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 26 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UIUC

California State University - Fullerton came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Full Cal State Fullerton Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#22 in overall quality

North Carolina State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NC State, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NC State are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at NC State

#20

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
Top 20% in overall quality

Emory University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Emory excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Emory

Michigan Technological University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Michigan Technological University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. FIU is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at FIU

#23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 30 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #14 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

With a ranking of #24, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 12 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Irvine

#25

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UAF is a medium-sized school located in Fairbanks, Alaska that handed out 16 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UAF are $24,287, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Alaska Fairbanks

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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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