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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region

9 Ranked Colleges
186 Degrees Awarded
$19,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 30,341 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 26th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,196 and had an average of $25,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,830 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,070 and $31,094 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 186 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 9 colleges that offer a degree in natural resources and conservation. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent natural resources and conservation programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students.

Top 9 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region

#1

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Webster University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Webster University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 50 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, Webster has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster University are $13,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Webster

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#3

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State are $16,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State University

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. UNL is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 17 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

UNL also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNL are $19,513.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#5

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

Iowa State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 7 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Iowa State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

#7

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 5 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Southeast Missouri State University

#8

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Kansas State University is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree natural resources & conservation students list, K -State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at K -State

#4 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193.

Full Mizzou Natural Resources & Conservation Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

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