2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources & conservation education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 188 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value natural resources & conservation schools.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Washtenaw Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $57,079. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Fox Valley Technical College one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $10,846. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $32,996. That is a strong return on a $10,846 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Wisconsin Parkside, which ranked #4. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,485. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vincennes University earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $32,138 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,559 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $43,307 early in their careers. Set against $19,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #7 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,917. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #9 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $56,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $16,577. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $44,256 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University landed the #11 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Students borrow a median of $26,373 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $49,025. Set against $26,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,409. Set against $26,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,619. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Hocking College placed #14 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $12,006. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $27,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #15 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,202 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $40,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #16 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,000. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $31,369 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,352 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $40,716. That is a strong return on a $23,352 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #18 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,500. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,918. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #19 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,171 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $31,201. That is a strong return on a $25,171 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,163 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $33,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
Lake Superior State University earned the #21 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $14,890 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $34,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #23 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,507. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,693. That is a strong return on a $21,507 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Global ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $55,306 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $48,361 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $41,040. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in natural resources & conservation:
Narrow Natural Resources & Conservation Schools by State
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 188 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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.
