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2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

12 Ranked Colleges
2,179 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 30,503 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 25th most popular in the United States. 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 the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,179 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,077 and $22,865 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 12 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.

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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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 273 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Colorado State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $11,924 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Colorado State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, 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 85%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Colorado State University - Fort Collins

2
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #2 spot on the list. UW is a fairly large school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 81 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

UW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $6,905 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wyoming.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Colorado Boulder. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 268 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

CU - Boulder also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Colorado Boulder is $13,141 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Colorado Boulder

4

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Utah State University landed the #4 spot on the list. USU is a large public school situated in Logan, Utah. It awarded 112 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

USU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Utah State University is $9,148 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full USU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

5
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Idaho. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Moscow, Idaho, this fairly large public school awarded 197 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

U of I also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,816 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U of I.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Idaho

6
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

University of Denver landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 203 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

DU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend DU is $20,307 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at DU

7
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of U is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U of U is $10,431 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full U of U Natural Resources & Conservation Report

8
UM crest
The University of Montana
Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. UM is a public institution located in Missoula, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 230 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,739 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UM.

Full UM Natural Resources & Conservation Report

9

Metropolitan State University of Denver ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

MSU Denver also took the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan State University of Denver is $11,867 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Metropolitan State University of Denver

10

Boise State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Boise State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Boise State University is $12,561 for Rocky Mountains Region 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%.

Full Boise State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

11
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Gunnison, Colorado, and it awarded 62 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Colorado University is $13,146 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Western Colorado University

12
FLC crest
Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado

Fort Lewis College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FLC is located in Durango, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

FLC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fort Lewis College is $11,492 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Fort Lewis College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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Notes and References

References

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