2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Ohio
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural resources & conservation schools.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources & conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Leading the list is Hocking College, our #1 best value for natural resources & conservation in Ohio. Located in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $10,290. Students borrow a median of $12,006 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $27,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,965. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $40,647. That is a strong return on a $21,965 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,083 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $36,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,083 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,584, with out-of-state students paying around $36,362. Students borrow a median of $12,286 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute generally make around $34,898. That is a strong return on a $12,286 median debt.
University Of Toledo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,100. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $32,706. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #6 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,556. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Otterbein University landed the #7 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,850. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $19,801 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,850 median debt. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,546. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of Wooster ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,936 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $32,382. That is a strong return on a $25,936 median debt. The College Of Wooster admits about 60% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,998. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,196. That is a strong return on a $25,998 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University came in at #11 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,600. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $56,878 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $34,417 early in their careers. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $34,708. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Dayton came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,033. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University placed #15 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,614. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $55,045. Set against $26,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Xavier University admits about 86% of applicants.
Kenyon College landed the #16 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,520. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $18,114 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $37,976. Set against $18,114 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kenyon College admits about 31% of applicants.
Oberlin College landed the #17 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,366. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,250. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $25,146. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Denison University earned the #18 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,000. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,360. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,236. That is a strong return on a $25,360 median debt. Denison University admits about 17% of applicants.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
