2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources & conservation education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 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 the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for natural resources & conservation in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $51,242. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Snow College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Mountain College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $48,694. Set against $12,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brigham Young University Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $39,896. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #5. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
Colorado State University Pueblo placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,325. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $49,098 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,325 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #7 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $52,302. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Colorado Northwestern Community College placed #8 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,594 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,250. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $38,698. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt.
Front Range Community College placed #9 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $36,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wyoming placed #10 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $40,142. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Idaho came in at #11 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,497 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $41,864. That is a strong return on a $22,497 median debt. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Utah State University landed the #12 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,941 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $30,192 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,941 median debt. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Mesa State College earned the #13 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #14 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,370 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,236 early in their careers. Set against $25,370 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Utah landed the #15 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $20,798. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Western State College Of Colorado landed the #16 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,612 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Western State College Of Colorado earn a median of $31,739 early in their careers. Set against $21,612 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western State College Of Colorado admits about 100% of applicants.
The University Of Montana Western ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. The University Of Montana Western is a small public school located in the town of Dillon. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, while out-of-state students pay about $20,130. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,484. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Montana Western earn a median of $36,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana earned the #18 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Students borrow a median of $21,471 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $29,769 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College placed #19 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,477 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $22,541. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #20 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,388. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $42,367 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,388 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $20,356 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $28,211 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Montana State University landed the #22 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,040 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $36,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #23 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,000. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $44,268 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado College earned the #24 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $17,372. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver placed #25 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,899 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $68,119. Set against $25,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
