2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Carolina
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value natural resources & conservation schools.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Carolina
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
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $42,595. Set against $24,977 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne Community College earned it the #2 place for natural resources & conservation. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #3 place for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,089. 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. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke admits about 93% of applicants.
Haywood Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, with out-of-state students paying around $8,724. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,767.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,044 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $47,071. That is a strong return on a $12,044 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,962 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,846. That is a strong return on a $21,962 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,501 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,849. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,880 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $25,758. That is a strong return on a $22,880 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Asheville admits about 92% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Students borrow a median of $24,099 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $55,653 early in their careers. Set against $24,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University landed the #9 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $27,631. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina Central University placed #10 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $31,173. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $42,873. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Davidson College came in at #11 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,430. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $33,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Catawba College placed #13 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. 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. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,794 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Catawba College generally make around $27,389. That is a strong return on a $25,794 median debt. Catawba College admits about 75% of applicants.
Brevard College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,280 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,667 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Brevard College earn a median of $32,122 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brevard College admits about 42% of applicants.
Warren Wilson College came in at #15 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,260 ten years after entry. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University earned the #16 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $67,369. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Wake Forest University admits about 22% of applicants.
Duke University landed the #17 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median of $52,122 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
Elon University landed the #18 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $50,463. Set against $21,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elon University admits about 66% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
