2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois is a small public school located in the town of DuBois. Students from in state pay about $14,408 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,134 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $20,867. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,382. Set against $20,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania Western University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $53,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,250. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $40,477. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned the #7 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $39,068 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Washington And Jefferson College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Washington, Washington And Jefferson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,392. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,887. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Washington And Jefferson College earn a median of $38,980 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,940, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $36,719. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Delaware Valley College earned the #11 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,850. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,966. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Delaware Valley College earn a median of $38,009 early in their careers. Set against $26,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Juniata College came in at #12 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Huntingdon, Juniata College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,580 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $33,069. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #13 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Temple University earn a median of $31,817 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Muhlenberg College landed the #14 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Allentown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,805. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $35,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Muhlenberg College admits about 72% of applicants.
Gettysburg College landed the #15 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,640. Students borrow a median of $24,889 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $29,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gettysburg College admits about 39% of applicants.
Ursinus College came in at #16 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Collegeville, Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,061. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Ursinus College generally make around $36,805. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $64,831. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Dickinson College came in at #18 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,650. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $18,402 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $27,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lafayette College came in at #19 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,931 median debt. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University came in at #21 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
Duquesne University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $48,986. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $54,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #23 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $28,956 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $30,835 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin And Marshall College landed the #24 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,794. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,888. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 28%.
Bucknell University landed the #25 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,812. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,798 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $46,698. That is a strong return on a $26,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in natural resources & conservation:
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
View All Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
