2024 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Southwest Region
19
Ranked Colleges
2,587
Degrees Awarded
$16,300
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.
Natural Resources & Conservation is the 25th most popular major in the country with 30,503 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, natural resources & conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 2,587 natural resources & conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,584 and $24,476 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in natural resources & conservation. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality natural resources & conservation programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources & conservation program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The natural resources & conservation school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Southwest Region
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #1 spot on the list. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UOPX - Arizona also took the #15 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,038 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students per year to attend UOPX - Arizona.
Full UOPX - Arizona Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 106 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Skysong
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large public school situated in Norman, Oklahoma. It awarded 108 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Oklahoma did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $21,122 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Oklahoma
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston - Clear Lake. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 31 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UH Clear Lake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $15,001 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Houston - Clear Lake Natural Resources & Conservation Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school handed out 95 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.
Texas State also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $14,887 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Full Texas State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Northern Arizona University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school handed out 255 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.
NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $14,308 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend NAU.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Northern Arizona University
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Stillwater, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
OSU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OSU is $14,237 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full OSU Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 221 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $13,107 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Arizona State University - Tempe Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Tarleton State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tarleton State University is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 100 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton State University is $20,307 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Full Tarleton State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 76 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
SFASU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $13,393 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at SFASU
Texas Tech University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Texas Tech University is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 91 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $16,194 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas Tech
The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
UTSA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at San Antonio is $10,549 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at The University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Houston came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. UH is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to qualified students.
UH also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $13,721 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UH
The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Arlington, Texas, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Arlington, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $15,509 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full The University of Texas at Arlington Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources & conservation students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our southwest region natural resources & conservation students list, Texas A&M Corpus Christi has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $17,203 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students.
Full Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources & conservation degrees to 387 students in 2020-2021.
Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $18,919 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas A&M University - College Station
New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 39 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
NMSU Main Campus also took the #19 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $10,428 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at NMSU Main Campus
University of Arizona did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 155 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Arizona also took the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Arizona is $13,358 for Southwest Region Natural Resources & Conservation students.
Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Arizona
With a ranking of #19, Baylor University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region list. Baylor University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 44 ’s natural resources & conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Baylor also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor University is $37,309 for southwest region natural resources & conservation students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Baylor University Natural Resources & Conservation Report
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.
college factual
(NRCS_Photo_Gallery).jpg){kind=link}