2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Texas

[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 22 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 Texas
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
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Texas. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at The University Of Texas At El Paso, which ranked #3. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,819. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $31,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $26,931. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Southwest Texas Junior College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,646, while out-of-state students pay about $6,294. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $7,157 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Southwest Texas Junior College generally make around $25,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kingsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,892, compared with $25,746 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $25,531 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $44,510. Set against $25,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #7 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $67,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,255. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Angelo State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,237. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Angelo State University generally make around $46,134. That is a strong return on a $21,237 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #10 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $19,866 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $20,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,866 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Stephen F Austin State University placed #11 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Students borrow a median of $22,826 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $39,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,346 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,100. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,368. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University placed #13 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #14 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $20,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,523 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earn a median of $37,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,523 median debt. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi admits about 89% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #15 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $57,819. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #16 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,515. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $29,414. Set against $24,515 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University placed #17 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $36,601. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Tarleton State University landed the #18 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,500. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $20,846 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $32,439 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Trinity University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,676. Students borrow a median of $23,314 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Trinity University generally make around $57,496. That is a strong return on a $23,314 median debt. Trinity University admits about 26% of applicants.
Texas Christian University came in at #21 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $61,740. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Baylor University landed the #22 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $31,707. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 51% 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. 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.