2023 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in California
13
Ranked Colleges
436
Degrees Awarded
$54,200
Avg Salary
Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 California, there were 4,046 natural resources and conservation graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,789 and $19,882 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in natural resources and conservation. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great natural resources and conservation programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the natural resources and conservation program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s”.
Top 13 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 14 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 8 of the 36,303 students enrolled at University of California - Irvine were GI Bill® students, of which 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,620. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
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 [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Irvine Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Davis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.According to our most recent data, UC Davis supports 39,074 students, and 31 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 23 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,489. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, 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 93%.
Full University of California - Davis Veteran Student Life Report
Out of the 13 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 90 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB also took the #2 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Among the 26,179 students enrolled at University of California - Santa Barbara, 286 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 128 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,510. During this same period, 3 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of California - Santa Barbara offers credit for military training for eligible students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of San Francisco. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
USFCA also took the #5 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Among the 10,068 students enrolled at USFCA, 6 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $19,232. In addition to receiving other benefits, 2 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of San Francisco Veteran Student Life Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Riverside. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
UCR also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10.Among the 26,434 students enrolled at UCR, 11 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,182. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. UCR does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at UCR]](/colleges/university-of-california-riverside/student-life/veterans/)
San Jose State University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree vets studying natural resources & conservation list, San Jose State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 660 of the 36,208 students enrolled at San Jose State were GI Bill® students, of which 384 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,909. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. San Jose State offers credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, 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 86%.
Read More…
University of San Diego ranked #7 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.Our most recent data shows that 44 of the 8,861 students enrolled at USD were GI Bill® students, of which 28 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $22,598. During this same period, 17 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 USD Veteran Student Life Report
California State University - Fullerton came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 17 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Cal State Fullerton also took the #11 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 748 of the 42,051 students enrolled at Cal State Fullerton were GI Bill® students, of which 342 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,729. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read More…
Humboldt State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s ranking. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified masters’s natural resources and conservation students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Humboldt State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Among the 6,612 students enrolled at Humboldt State University, 177 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 68 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,772. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Humboldt State University Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUMB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.According to our most recent data, CSUMB supports 7,409 students, and 20 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 11 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $9,369. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
With a ranking of #11, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to qualified students.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list.Of the 19,161 students enrolled at UC Santa Cruz, 273 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 114 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,631. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey ranked #12 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Monterey, California, and it awarded 27 masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees in 2020-2021.
Middlebury Institute also took the #6 spot in our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.Of the 686 students enrolled at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, 36 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 34 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $18,444. On top of their other funding sources, 24 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #13 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Natural Resources & Conservation for a Master’s list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s natural resources and conservation degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also made our “Best Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12.Of the 22,440 students enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 268 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 128 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,027. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- **GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.
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