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2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k

12 Ranked Colleges
2,179 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 25th most popular major in the country with 30,503 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,179 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,077 and $22,865 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 12 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation (Income $48-$75k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

1
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this fairly large public school awarded 81 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

UW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $9,394 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UW

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, this large public school handed out 273 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, Colorado State has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado State is $15,086 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Colorado State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Utah State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. USU is a large school located in Logan, Utah that handed out 112 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

USU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Utah State University is $13,553 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at USU

4
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Idaho. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k. U of I is located in Moscow, Idaho and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 197 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U of I, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,998 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Idaho.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 U of I Natural Resources & Conservation Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Boulder. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. CU - Boulder is a large school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 268 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

CU - Boulder also took the #3 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $18,204 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CU - Boulder.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CU - Boulder Natural Resources & Conservation Report

6
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.

U of U also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $13,842 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Utah

7

Metropolitan State University of Denver came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Metropolitan State University of Denver is located in Denver, Colorado and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

MSU Denver did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Denver is $14,679 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full MSU Denver Natural Resources & Conservation Report

8
UM crest
The University of Montana
Missoula, Montana

With a ranking of #8, The University of Montana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UM is a fairly large school located in Missoula, Montana that handed out 230 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, UM has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UM is $15,281 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UM Natural Resources & Conservation Report

9
FLC crest
Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado

Fort Lewis College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. FLC is a public institution located in Durango, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

FLC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $16,067 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Fort Lewis College.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Fort Lewis College

10
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

Western Colorado University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Gunnison, Colorado, and it awarded 62 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $16,216 for rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Western Colorado University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Western Colorado University

11

Boise State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Boise State University is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region natural resources & conservation students whose families make $48-$75k list, Boise State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $16,204 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Boise State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Boise State

12
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

University of Denver did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 203 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

DU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Denver is $27,767 for Rocky Mountains Region Natural Resources & Conservation students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 University of Denver

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