Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Natural Resources & Conservation

Find Schools Near

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

12 Ranked Colleges
495 Degrees Awarded
$19,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor's in Minnesota

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 for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Minnesota, there were 667 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,420 and $20,060 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 495 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,526 and $26,035 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources and conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources and conservation programs, but they also 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

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 in Minnesota” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota

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

Top 12 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in Minnesota

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #1 spot on the list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#2

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Cloud State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 17 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $14,267 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Full St. Cloud State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 170 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #1 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,740 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Twin Cities

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston also took the #7 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $10,952 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Crookston

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for Minnesota 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

#12 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. University of Minnesota - Morris is a public institution located in Morris, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Morris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $11,412 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Morris

#7

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #7. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bethel University Minnesota, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $25,191 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Bethel University Minnesota Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#8

Saint Johns University

Collegeville, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

Saint Johns University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Collegeville, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SJU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $24,271 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend SJU.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Full Saint Johns University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#9

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s natural resources and conservation students in 2019-2020.

Gustavus Adolphus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Gustavus Adolphus College is $19,093 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Gustavus Adolphus College

#10

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota list. UST MN is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $29,155 for minnesota bachelor’s degree natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UST MN.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 University of St Thomas Minnesota

#11

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

St Olaf College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $23,543 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 91%.

Full St. Olaf Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#12

Macalester College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Macalester College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota ranking. 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 18 students in 2019-2020.

Macalester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macalester is $28,426 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Natural Resources & Conservation students.

The low student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Macalester Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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.

Featured Environment / Natural Resources Schools

Find Schools Near You