2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Montana
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resources & conservation students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Montana
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 The University Of Montana Western this year. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,669, with out-of-state students paying around $20,130. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,484. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $36,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The University Of Montana is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,471. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $29,376 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,471 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Montana State University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,040. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $36,745 early in their careers. Set against $27,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
