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

32 Ranked Colleges
1,353 Degrees Awarded
$11,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 Plains States region, there were 1,830 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,070 and $31,094 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,353 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 32 colleges that offer 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 22 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $6,248 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Washington University in St Louis.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full WUSTL Natural Resources & Conservation Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $3,435 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 170 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $8,418 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Crookston, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,948 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Crookston

#5

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Valley City, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University also took the #16 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,434 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Valley City State University.

Full Valley City State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #18 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#4 in overall quality

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 118 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,843 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa State University

#8

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Macalester College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Paul, Minnesota 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 18 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Macalester has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,047 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Macalester.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Macalester

#9

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

St Olaf College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Olaf has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $12,276 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 St. Olaf Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,274 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at St. Cloud State University

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNOMAHA is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $11,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UNOMAHA Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,781 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Minnesota State University - Mankato

#7 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 84 students in 2019-2020.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $13,508 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $12,544 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#15

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#5 in overall quality

South Dakota State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 72 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State

#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $11,595 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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 89%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Mizzou

#17

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Western is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western State University is $9,096 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Missouri Western Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

Saint Johns University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Saint Johns University is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

SJU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SJU is $15,628 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at SJU

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $9,863 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Northwest Missouri State University

#20

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

With a ranking of #20, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,217 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southeast Missouri State University

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $13,488 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri State

#22

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,669 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Gustavus Adolphus College

#23

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,089 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend K -State.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full K -State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#24

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $15,073 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa

#25

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #25, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,553 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City 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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