by our College Data Analytics Team
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value natural resources & conservation schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of The Ozarks earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,944. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Hawkeye Community College one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Morris earned it the #4 place for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $14,526 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,080 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Minnesota Morris earn a median of $44,479 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $45,589 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Crookston came in at #7 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. Students from in state pay about $13,288 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,380. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $37,453. Set against $21,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #8 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $22,639 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $32,284. That is a strong return on a $22,639 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Western State University landed the #9 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,545 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $32,199. Set against $24,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,249. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $14,479 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bemidji State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Students borrow a median of $23,900 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $38,695. That is a strong return on a $23,900 median debt. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #12 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $43,255. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $40,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #14 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,343 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $43,215. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #15 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $46,054. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Kansas earned the #16 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,282. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $34,374. Set against $19,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $33,514. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Iowa State University earned the #18 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,995. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $38,699. Set against $19,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #19 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $26,894 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $33,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Kansas State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,361. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $44,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,361 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #21 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,937. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $26,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lindenwood University came in at #22 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $48,197. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #24 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,210 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $39,291. That is a strong return on a $20,210 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
South Dakota State University landed the #25 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,798 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $39,483. That is a strong return on a $24,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in natural resources & conservation:
This list is compiled 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
