2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Iowa
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Iowa
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
Hawkeye Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Iowa. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #2 place for natural resources & conservation. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $19,995 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $38,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #4. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,054 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,251 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,347. Set against $22,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,000. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $35,650 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Luther College placed #7 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,120. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,967 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Luther College earn a median of $19,239 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,967 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Drake University earned the #8 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
