2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Minnesota
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resources & conservation students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Minnesota
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
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Minnesota. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Crookston one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. 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. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,343 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $43,253. That is a strong return on a $23,343 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Bemidji State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,900. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $38,905 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Minnesota Duluth one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $26,894 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $33,565. That is a strong return on a $26,894 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #6 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,260. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $53,088 early in their careers. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State University earned the #7 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $30,822 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $54,195. Set against $30,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
St Olaf College placed #8 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,760 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,455 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $29,921. That is a strong return on a $24,455 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,076. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $38,024. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Gustavus Adolphus College admits about 61% of applicants.
Carleton College earned the #10 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $17,566. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Set against $17,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $29,559. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #12 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
