2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the New England Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 47 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 the New England Region
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 Worcester State University, our #1 best value for natural resources & conservation in the New England Region. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,786, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,451 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,297. That is a strong return on a $24,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Maine earned it the #2 place for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,513. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $34,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $72,276 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Williams College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,615 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $53,652. That is a strong return on a $12,615 median debt. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Massachusetts Lowell, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,000. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,215. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,179, compared with $18,259 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,913 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,809. That is a strong return on a $23,913 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Colby College came in at #7 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. Students from in state pay about $69,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,313. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Colby College earn a median of $28,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 7%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $41,547. Set against $21,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Vermont placed #9 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,920, while out-of-state students pay about $13,640. Students borrow a median of $12,125 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,182. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt.
University Of Maine landed the #10 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,228 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $42,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Keene State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Keene State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Keene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,360. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Keene State College earn a median of $36,423 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Vermont Technical College placed #12 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, with out-of-state students paying around $22,296. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Vermont Technical College earn a median of $39,997 early in their careers. Set against $24,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vermont Technical College admits about 82% of applicants.
Yale University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $54,447. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Vermont ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $26,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #16 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,102. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $48,301. Set against $24,102 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University placed #17 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Amherst College landed the #18 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $15,398. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $59,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Unity College came in at #19 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Unity College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Gloucester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,640. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Unity College earn a median of $41,606 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,420, while out-of-state students pay about $23,722. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Massachusetts Maritime Academy earn a median of $50,931 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $41,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University came in at #22 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. Students borrow a median of $24,103 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $59,706 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,103 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Plymouth State University came in at #23 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Plymouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,626, while out-of-state students pay about $25,566. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Plymouth State University generally make around $31,836. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Connecticut earned the #24 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,692. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $26,899 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,692 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #25 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $26,959 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $44,484. Set against $26,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for natural resources & conservation this year:
Narrow Natural Resources & Conservation Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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.
