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2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

32 Ranked Colleges
1,353 Degrees Awarded
$17,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Plains States Region” 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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,830 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,070 and $31,094 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,353 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 32 colleges that offered 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. 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 Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region

#1

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State is $19,252 for Plains States Region 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 South Dakota State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#2

Valley City State University

Valley City, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valley City State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Valley City State University is a small school located in Valley City, North Dakota that handed out 16 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Valley City State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Valley City State University is $11,981 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Full Valley City State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Crookston is a public institution located in Crookston, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston is $10,952 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Crookston

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,584 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at North Dakota State University

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 7 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Minnesota State Mankato

#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,267 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Full St. Cloud State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UMN Duluth Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 118 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,496 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Iowa State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Iowa State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

University of Minnesota - Morris came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UMN Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Morris Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 32 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Missouri State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Missouri State University - Springfield

#11

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Southeast Missouri State University

With a ranking of #12, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Northwest

#17 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#14

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

With a ranking of #14, Missouri Western State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Missouri Western is a small school located in Saint Joseph, Missouri that handed out 11 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western State University is $10,958 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Full Missouri Western State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 84 degrees to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $17,208 for plains states 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 4.2% 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 more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL

#16

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $18,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

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

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at K -State

#17

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 170 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,740 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#18

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#23 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 47 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, KU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $18,918 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Kansas Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#19

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UMKC is $14,643 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #24 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#21

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#22

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

With a ranking of #22, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $21,624 for plains states region bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UIU.

Full UIU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#23

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $25,191 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Bethel University Minnesota

#24

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UD is $26,748 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Dubuque

#25

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Drake University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Drake University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake University is $29,432 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Drake 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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