2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Dakota
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Dakota
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
Valley City State University tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in North Dakota. Valley City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Valley City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Valley City State University earn a median of $44,253 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valley City State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at North Dakota State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $40,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
