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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation

357 Ranked Colleges
21,733 Degrees Awarded
$15,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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” 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.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 21,733 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, we looked at 357 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 Bachelor’s” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation

#1

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
Top 10% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Public University System. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 311 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

American Military University excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $10,222 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend American Military University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at American Public University System

Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 150 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Arizona is $12,944 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UOPX - Arizona

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
Top 20% in overall quality

Out of the 357 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #3 spot on the list. 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.

South Dakota State excels when it comes to natural resources and conservation quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $19,252 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State University

#4

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Valley City State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s 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.

The estimated yearly cost for Valley City State University is $11,981 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Full Valley City State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#5

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 272 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Stevens Point

University of Minnesota - Crookston came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UMN Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Crookston is $10,952 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

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

#7

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UW - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,748 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Natural Resources & Conservation Report

Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a large school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 28 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Idaho is $7,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at BYU - I

#9

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

With a ranking of #9, Southern New Hampshire University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Manchester, New Hampshire, and it awarded 267 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend SNHU is $41,095 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Southern New Hampshire University

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #10. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $16,584 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

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%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Stout is a medium-sized school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin that handed out 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,839 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stout Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Lake Superior State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,398 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Lake Superior State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Lake Superior State University

Top 20% in overall quality

University of Maryland Global Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #13. UMGC is located in Adelphi, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UMGC also did well on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for UMGC is $14,288 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMGC

#14

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 26 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#15

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

Massachusetts Maritime Academy came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Maritime is a public institution located in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Maritime not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy is $20,485 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Massachusetts Maritime Academy Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#16

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Pembroke, North Carolina

With a ranking of #16, University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UNC Pembroke is a public institution located in Pembroke, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,228 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UNC Pembroke.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

#17

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #17, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Ship is $22,054 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Ship

#18

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $15,249 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#19

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #19, Westfield State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Westfield State University is a medium-sized school located in Westfield, Massachusetts that handed out 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Westfield State University is $19,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

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%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,267 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at St. Cloud State University

#22

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #22. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,259 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at NIU

Top 15% in overall quality

University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Houston - 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.

In addition to being on this list, UH Clear Lake is in the top on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $10,612 for bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UH Clear Lake

#24

Hunter College

New York, New York

Hunter College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Hunter is $2,490 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Hunter College

#25

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

With a ranking of #25, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Arizona State University - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Skysong is $13,971 for Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Full ASU - Skysong Natural Resources & Conservation Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia
#27

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania
#29

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming
#30

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#31

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#32

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, North Carolina
#34

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana
#37

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida
#38

Unity College

Unity, Maine
#41

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#42

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield, Pennsylvania
#44

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#48

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#49

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, Alabama
#50

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NY
52 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
53 The University of Arizona Global Campus San Diego, CA
53 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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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