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2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

10 Ranked Colleges
85 Degrees Awarded
$30,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 4,152 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,081 and $25,321 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 85 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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

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 Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to 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 Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 19 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UW - Madison

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Houghton, Michigan, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan Technological University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#3

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Central Michigan University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue University - Main Campus

#5

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ball State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 3 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ball State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, UIUC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UIUC

#10 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 2 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UWM

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 15 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Michigan State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#5 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 7 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#2 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 doctorate’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

U-M also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at U-M

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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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