2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Montana
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
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2027 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
The University Of Montana Western earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in Montana. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $36,924. Set against $22,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana Western admits about 100% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at The University Of Montana, which ranked #2. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,471. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $29,769. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Montana State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,040 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $36,745. Set against $27,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
