by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 12 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resources & conservation students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in natural resources & conservation, no school beat Dabney S Lancaster Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Clifton Forge, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,293.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Mountain Empire Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College generally make around $36,988. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes George Mason University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,021 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $43,038. Set against $23,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Emory And Henry College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,000. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Emory And Henry College earn a median of $47,255 early in their careers. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emory And Henry College admits about 84% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Longwood University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,740 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. Students borrow a median of $25,649 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $39,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $13,952 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $51,264. Set against $13,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Hollins University came in at #7 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Roanoke. In-state tuition and fees average $43,560. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hollins University earn a median of $26,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Christopher Newport University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,828, compared with $31,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,094. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,656. That is a strong return on a $25,094 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #9 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $32,038. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Roanoke College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,068. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Roanoke College generally make around $39,588. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $22,010. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $59,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Richmond ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,634. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $53,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Richmond admits about 22% of applicants.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.