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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in California

16 Ranked Colleges
425 Degrees Awarded
$25,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 California, there were 4,073 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,215 and $22,557 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 425 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 16 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.

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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Berkeley Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fullerton landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Fullerton

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Irvine

#4

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Barbara. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 74 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSB are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UCSB

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Riverside. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UCR

#13 in overall quality

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 6 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUSB, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at CSUSB

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Davis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of California - Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UC Davis also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Davis

#8

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

San Jose State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 10 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at San Jose State

#9

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 22 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#11 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of California - Santa Cruz

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 2 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

CSUMB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Monterey Bay are $18,081.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at CSUMB

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 3 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Chico State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Humboldt State University

#15

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Diego ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USD, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Diego are $28,410, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at USD

#16

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

University of San Francisco ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Francisco, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

USFCA also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710.

Full USFCA 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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