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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Plains States Region

106 Ranked Colleges
1,809 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Natural Resources & Conservation is the 25th most popular major in the country with 30,503 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,809 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,184 and $23,681 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 106 colleges that offer a degree in natural resources and conservation. To top this list, a school must have a successful natural resources and conservation program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region natural resources & conservation students.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 237 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UMN Twin Cities

2

Out of the 106 schools in the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 138 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at UNL

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 135 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Full Iowa State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

4
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

Out of the 106 schools in the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #4 spot on the list. South Dakota State is a fairly large school located in Brookings, South Dakota that handed out 74 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at South Dakota State

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 75 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Natural Resources & Conservation Report

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 64 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Iowa

7
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at K -State

8
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

With a ranking of #8, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, 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 86%.

Full KU Natural Resources & Conservation Report

9

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 52 students 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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Natural Resources & Conservation Report

10
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, Bemidji State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 48 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bemidji State University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

11

With a ranking of #11, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Natural Resources & Conservation Report

12
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Webster University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 37 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Webster University Natural Resources & Conservation Report

13
St. Olaf crest
St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

With a ranking of #13, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. St. Olaf is located in Northfield, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Olaf Natural Resources & Conservation Report

14

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 34 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Natural Resources & Conservation Report

15

Vermilion Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Vermilion Community College is a small school located in Ely, Minnesota that handed out 69 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Vermilion Community College Natural Resources & Conservation Report

16
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Drake University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Drake

17

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Natural Resources & Conservation Report

18
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #18, Macalester College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Macalester College

18
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. This medium-sized school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 19 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Southeast Missouri State University

18

Haskell Indian Nations University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Haskell is a small public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 19 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Haskell Indian Nations University

21
UST MN crest
University of St Thomas Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified ’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 St Thomas Minnesota Natural Resources & Conservation Report

21

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at UMKC

23
Gustavus Adolphus crest
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Gustavus Adolphus

23

University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Crookston, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Minnesota - Crookston

25

Hawkeye Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Hawkeye Community College is a medium-sized school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 34 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at Hawkeye Community College

25
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

Creighton University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Creighton

25
CSB crest
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota

With a ranking of #25, College of Saint Benedict did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Natural Resources & Conservation Major in the Plains States Region list. College of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. It awarded 16 ’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 89%.

Read more about Natural Resources & Conservation at CSB

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