2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Carolina
[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 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 North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources & conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,044 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $47,071 early in their careers. Set against $12,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,977. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $42,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne Community College one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,089 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $38,400 early in their careers. Set against $27,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Haywood Community College earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,580, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $35,767 early in their careers.
Western Carolina University placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,962. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $36,846 early in their careers. Set against $21,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville placed #7 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,880. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn a median of $25,758 early in their careers. Set against $22,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Asheville admits about 92% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #8 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,099 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $55,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Davidson College came in at #9 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $41,505. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Davidson College admits about 13% of applicants.
North Carolina Central University placed #10 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,699 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $42,873 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,173 median debt. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
Appalachian State University placed #11 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $27,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Catawba College came in at #12 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salisbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. Students borrow a median of $25,794 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Catawba College earn a median of $27,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #13 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $33,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Warren Wilson College came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Swannanoa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,260 ten years after entry. Warren Wilson College admits about 71% of applicants.
Wake Forest University placed #15 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $67,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University earned the #16 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $11,875. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median of $49,677 early in their careers. Set against $11,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
Elon University came in at #17 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,619. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
