2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Wisconsin

[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resources & conservation students.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources & conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
For return on investment in natural resources & conservation, no school beat Fox Valley Technical College this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $10,846 in student loans. 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 Mid State Technical College, which ranked #2. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $11,626. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,626 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Wisconsin Parkside, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,270, while out-of-state students pay about $17,429. Students borrow a median of $24,485 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $40,365. Set against $24,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Wisconsin Superior, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,812, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Students borrow a median of $27,845 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior generally make around $45,219. That is a strong return on a $27,845 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Superior admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Students borrow a median of $23,202 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $40,099. Set against $23,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,507. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $35,693. Set against $21,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #7 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. 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. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,163. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $33,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #8 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $50,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #9 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. 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. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,352 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $40,708 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,352 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #10 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. 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. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #11 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $42,024. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $41,040. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #13 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,000. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $31,128 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Carthage College came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,750. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,000. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $25,553. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,122. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. That is a strong return on a $24,122 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.