2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Michigan
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Michigan
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 earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in Michigan. 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. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Oakland University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,171 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $31,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,171 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Dearborn one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $16,577 in student loans. 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. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #5. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Lake Superior State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Albion College placed #7 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,950. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Albion College generally make around $40,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Northern Michigan University earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Students borrow a median of $24,404 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $26,349. That is a strong return on a $24,404 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University placed #9 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $45,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $21,919 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,656. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University came in at #12 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,158 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $32,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Central Michigan University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $28,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University earned the #14 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,646 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $41,344 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
