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

17 Ranked Colleges
363 Degrees Awarded
$21,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 363 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 17 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

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 Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas Tech University

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’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 #2 spot on the list. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH Clear Lake, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston - Clear Lake are $19,216.

Full University of Houston - Clear Lake Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, OSU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OSU are $23,963, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#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 #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M University - College Station

#2 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 #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 49 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, NMSU Main Campus has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#13 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. SFASU is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 7 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SFASU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stephen F Austin State University are $15,695.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at SFASU

#8

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#6 in overall quality

University of Arizona came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Arizona

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UTSA Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#8 in overall quality

Texas State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas State is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Texas State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas State University

#10 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Texas at Arlington

#12

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#11 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northern Arizona University is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Northern Arizona University

#4 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 21 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are $23,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is located in Corpus Christi, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M Corpus Christi has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi are $15,683.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M Corpus Christi

#15

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Tarleton State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tarleton is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 3 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tarleton are $15,485, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Tarleton State University

#16

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #16, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Baylor University is a fairly large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 1 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Baylor has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baylor University are $36,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Baylor University

#17

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas

Saint Edward’s University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

St. Edward’s University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Edward’s University are $29,530.

Full Saint Edward’s University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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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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