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

23 Ranked Colleges
2,575 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools 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. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 UT Rio Grande Valley

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 #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 416 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, Texas A&M College Station has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,454 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M College Station.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Texas A&M College Station Natural Resources & Conservation Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston - Clear Lake. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UH Clear Lake is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 27 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UH Clear Lake is $4,517 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#4

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Tech University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 75 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,317 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas Tech University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Texas Tech Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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 in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 231 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,044 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Tempe

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,669 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus.

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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

#7

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UH is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 18 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,203 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UH.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UH

#8

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #8, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 159 students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,562 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Arizona Natural Resources & Conservation Report

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 65 students in 2019-2020.

UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,516 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Texas at San Antonio

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large public school situated in Nacogdoches, Texas. It awarded 71 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

SFASU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $8,650 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Stephen F Austin State University

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 150 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UOPX - Arizona, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UOPX - Arizona is $12,601 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Phoenix - Arizona

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 42 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also took the #16 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,896 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NMSU Main Campus.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas State University is located in San Marcos, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Texas State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $11,125 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texas State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UT Arlington is $11,811 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Texas at Arlington

Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M University - Commerce is a fairly large school located in Commerce, Texas that handed out 44 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce also took the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M Commerce is $10,013 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#16

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Arizona University is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 257 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Arizona University is $9,251 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at NAU

With a ranking of #17, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,675 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Arizona State University - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

ASU - Skysong not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Skysong is $12,037 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at ASU - Skysong

#18

New Mexico Highlands University

Las Vegas, New Mexico

New Mexico Highlands University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New Mexico Highlands University is a small public school situated in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It awarded 14 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

New Mexico Highlands University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $8,345 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend New Mexico Highlands University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at New Mexico Highlands University

#19

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 57 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also took the #19 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi is $15,501 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#20

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Stephenville, Texas, and it awarded 63 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $15,604 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tarleton State University.

Full Tarleton State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Southwestern University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Georgetown, Texas, and it awarded 11 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwestern, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $20,296 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southwestern.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southwestern

#22

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas

Saint Edward’s University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Edward’s University is located in Austin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

St. Edward’s University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend St. Edward’s University is $19,126 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Saint Edward’s University

#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

With a ranking of #23, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Waco, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Baylor also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $26,726 for Southwest Region 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 student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Baylor

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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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