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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation

254 Ranked Colleges
4,521 Degrees Awarded
$48,625 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master's

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 30,503 people earned their degree in natural resources and conservation, making the major the 25th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, natural resources and conservation graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,158 and had an average of $23,267 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,521 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s” ranking looked at 254 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in natural resources and conservation. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in natural resources and conservation.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s”.

1
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 168 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Harvard Natural Resources & Conservation Report

2

Out of the 254 schools in the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 165 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full U-M Natural Resources & Conservation Report

3
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 254 schools in the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 153 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Duke University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

4

Out of the 254 schools in the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #4 spot on the list. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 138 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Colorado State

5
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Denver. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. University of Denver is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 137 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Denver

6
Oregon State crest
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. Oregon State University is a large school located in Corvallis, Oregon that handed out 116 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Oregon State University

7
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. New Haven, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 115 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Yale University

8
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

American Public University System ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 111 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at American Military University

9
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Virginia Tech

10

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 90 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCSB Natural Resources & Conservation Report

11

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 84 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UC Berkeley

12

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 79 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Columbia University in the City of New York

13
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 78 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Pennsylvania Natural Resources & Conservation Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 76 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Colorado Boulder

15
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at North Carolina State University

16

With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 65 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Natural Resources & Conservation Report

17
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #17, University of Florida did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school awarded 64 diplomas to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Florida Natural Resources & Conservation Report

18

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 60 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Natural Resources & Conservation Report

19
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

University of Idaho ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. Moscow, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Idaho Natural Resources & Conservation Report

20
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

With a ranking of #20, University of Georgia did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UGA

21
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Clemson University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. Clemson University is a large public school situated in Clemson, South Carolina. It awarded 52 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Clemson University

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s list. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 49 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

23

Antioch University - New England came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. Keene, New Hampshire is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Antioch University - New England

23

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Indiana University - Bloomington

25

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s ranking. ASU - Skysong is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at ASU - Skysong

Rest of the Best 41 in Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
27
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia
28
The American University crest
American University
Washington, District of Columbia
29
Clark crest
Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts
29
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
31
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri
32
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California
33
34
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
34
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
36
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado
37
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
38
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
38
38
38

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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