2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Alabama

[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 6 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resources & conservation students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Alabama
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 Lurleen B Wallace Community College this year. Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Andalusia. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lurleen B Wallace Community College generally make around $36,027. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Students borrow a median of $29,746 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $44,249. Set against $29,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Southern University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,173. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $74,546. Set against $27,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Montevallo earned it the #4 place for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,948, while out-of-state students pay about $26,968. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,096 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,673. Set against $25,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Alabama one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $20,807 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University came in at #6 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $20,581. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $51,215. That is a strong return on a $20,581 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
View All Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.