2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking.
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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,082 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,144 and $25,086 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,205 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,111 and $23,874 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking, we looked at 20 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region.
Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Rocky Mountains Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
BYU - I also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $7,167 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #2 spot on the list. UW is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 78 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW is $12,159 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wyoming
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Utah State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Utah State University is a large school located in Logan, Utah that handed out 81 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
USU also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Utah State University is $13,634 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Montana - Western. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. The University of Montana - Western is a public institution located in Dillon, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Montana Western has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,929 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Montana Western.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Montana Western
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Utah. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 102 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
U of U also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $14,773 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Western Colorado University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Western Colorado University is a small school located in Gunnison, Colorado that handed out 38 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
Western also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $17,282 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Western.
Montana State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Bozeman, Montana, this fairly large public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Bozeman, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $19,202 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
With a ranking of #8, Fort Lewis College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Fort Lewis College is a small public school situated in Durango, Colorado. It awarded 35 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
FLC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $16,274 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend FLC.
Full Fort Lewis College Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, MSU Denver has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver is $14,257 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Colorado Mesa University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
Colorado Mesa also took the #18 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa is $15,569 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
University of Idaho landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Idaho is a public institution located in Moscow, Idaho. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
U of I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $14,132 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend University of Idaho.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at U of I
Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #12. Colorado State is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Colorado State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $18,668 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Colorado State.
The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Boise State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #13. Boise State University is a large public school situated in Boise, Idaho. It awarded 63 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boise State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boise State is $15,787 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Boise State
The University of Montana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #14. Missoula, Montana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 126 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, UM has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Montana is $15,246 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The College of Idaho came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. The College of Idaho is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Caldwell, Idaho. It awarded 7 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
The College of Idaho also took the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $21,005 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend The College of Idaho.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full The College of Idaho Natural Resources & Conservation Report
University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 185 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
CU - Boulder also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend CU - Boulder is $21,680 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 University of Colorado Boulder Natural Resources & Conservation Report
With a ranking of #17, Westminster College Utah did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Westminster College Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
Westminster College Salt Lake also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $20,674 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Westminster College Utah.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Westminster College Utah
Naropa University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #18. Naropa is a small school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 6 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Naropa has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Naropa is $25,871 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Naropa University
University of Denver landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, DU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $32,361 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend University of Denver.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Denver
Colorado College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Colorado College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Colorado College is $26,753 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. 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 Colorado College
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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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