2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Oregon Institute Of Technology tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Oregon. Set in the town of Klamath Falls, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,260, with out-of-state students paying around $37,196. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,551 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Oregon Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Portland State University earned it the #2 place for natural resources & conservation. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $29,250. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $31,512 early in their careers. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Oregon University earned it the #3 place for natural resources & conservation. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, compared with $31,887 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,543 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $30,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,543 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Oregon State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $32,597 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $49,089. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Oregon one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $30,200 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Willamette University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,156 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,511 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $28,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Pacific University landed the #7 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,374. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $60,850. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pacific University admits about 90% of applicants.
Lewis And Clark College landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,828. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,301 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $43,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Portland came in at #9 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Portland earn a median of $35,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Reed College landed the #10 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Portland, Reed College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,350. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,137 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Reed College earn a median of $30,588 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,137 median debt. Roughly 25% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
