2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Illinois
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Illinois
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best value for a degree in natural resources & conservation in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $57,079. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,000. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $31,369. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,625. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $36,409 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southeastern Illinois College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $6,780 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $33,763.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $54,302. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #7 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,512. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Illinois State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $49,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
North Central College earned the #9 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Central College earn a median of $46,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,699 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Knox College earned the #11 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,903. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $28,757. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #12 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College earned the #13 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,402. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $26,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #15 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,750. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $26,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #16 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,042 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $30,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
