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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

23 Ranked Colleges
1,823 Degrees Awarded
$12,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,823 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

#15 in overall quality

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $3,473 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Rio Grande Valley.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school awarded 361 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $13,270 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M University - 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 105 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,921 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

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 Arizona State University - Tempe

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $9,962 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at OSU

#5

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UH also took the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $9,925 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UH

#6

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#7 in overall quality

Texas Tech University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $13,326 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas Tech University

#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UH Clear Lake is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 18 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UH Clear Lake is $7,941 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school handed out 59 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UTSA has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $11,109 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UTSA.

Full The University of Texas at San Antonio Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#11 in overall quality

University of Arizona ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 116 students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $11,466 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Arizona

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#9 in overall quality

Texas State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas State University is a public institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $12,292 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas State University

#14 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, SFASU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stephen F Austin State University is $10,816 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SFASU

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $7,006 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at NMSU Main Campus

#3 in overall quality

University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UOPX - Arizona is a large private for-profit school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 150 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UOPX - Arizona also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $13,378 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UOPX - Arizona.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UOPX - Arizona

#22 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is located in Commerce, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M Commerce not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Commerce is $10,580 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M Commerce

#15

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#21 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NAU is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 140 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,799 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northern Arizona University.

Full Northern Arizona University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 9 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $12,974 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Arlington.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UT Arlington

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 43 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Oklahoma has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is $17,285 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#17 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, ASU - Skysong has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Skysong is $12,020 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Skysong

#18

New Mexico Highlands University

Las Vegas, New Mexico
#24 in overall quality

New Mexico Highlands University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. New Mexico Highlands University is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

New Mexico Highlands University also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico Highlands University is $9,126 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at New Mexico Highlands University

#19

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a public institution located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also took the #16 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $16,393 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#20

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Southwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Georgetown, Texas, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwestern is $21,578 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 low 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%.

Full Southwestern University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Tarleton State University is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 60 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tarleton is $17,132 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Tarleton State University

#22

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Saint Edward’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

St. Edward’s University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $20,024 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Edward’s University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Saint Edward’s University

#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Baylor University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor is $29,849 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Baylor 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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