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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

23 Ranked Colleges
1,823 Degrees Awarded
$30,926 Avg Salary
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 23 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.

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

The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

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 Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#15 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. 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. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $6,405 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston - Clear Lake. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UH Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,886 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UH Clear Lake.

Full University of Houston - Clear Lake Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 361 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M College Station, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $18,810 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas A&M College Station.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Texas A&M University - College Station Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#6 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 $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, UH has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $12,505 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UH

#5

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas State University. 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 $48-$75k. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,250 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas State.

Full Texas State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, 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 $48-$75k list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 59 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also took the #19 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $13,827 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UTSA

#4 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. ASU - 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. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $14,033 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 ASU - Tempe

#3 in overall quality

University of Phoenix - Arizona ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 150 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, UOPX - Arizona has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Phoenix - Arizona is $14,939 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UOPX - Arizona

#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 $48-$75k list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 116 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 $48-$75k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $15,399 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Arizona

#18 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, NMSU Main Campus has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Main Campus is $10,235 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#10 in overall quality

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 16 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 $48-$75k list, OSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,698 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#12

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#7 in overall quality

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech University is $17,421 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14 in overall quality

Stephen F Austin State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 64 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $13,644 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full SFASU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#13 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Arlington is $14,622 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UT Arlington Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#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 $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 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 $12,675 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northern Arizona University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Northern Arizona University

#22 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is a fairly large school located in Commerce, Texas that handed out 44 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce also took the #22 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M Commerce is $14,033 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#17

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#17 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $15,891 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Arizona State University - Skysong.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#17

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

New Mexico Highlands University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico Highlands University is $10,625 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#8 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #18. University of Oklahoma is a public institution located in Norman, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,812 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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

#19

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 47 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 $48-$75k list, Texas A&M Corpus Christi has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $18,590 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#20

Southwestern University

Georgetown, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Southwestern University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southwestern is located in Georgetown, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

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 $20,394 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southwestern

#21

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Tarleton State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Tarleton is a public institution located in Stephenville, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton State University is $19,542 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#22

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Saint Edward’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. St. Edward’s University is a small school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 15 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees 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. The estimated yearly cost for St. Edward’s University is $23,929 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full St. Edward’s University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Baylor University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Baylor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $31,343 for southwest region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Baylor University

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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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