Natural Resources & Conservation degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources & conservation programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 428 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources & conservation students pursuing a degree.
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #3. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 41 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 13 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,850. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #5. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 528 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $47,338 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $12,988 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California placed #7 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 54 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $75,677 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $10,160 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego earned the #8 position for natural resources & conservation this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 68 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $37,524 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for University Of California San Diego
University Of Dayton came in at #9 for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 17 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $56,077 in their early career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #10 position for natural resources & conservation this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 123 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $31,944. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #11 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 11 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323.
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Duke University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 161 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $33,180 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $64,831. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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Tufts University earned the #14 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 24 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $40,044 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $18,050 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University placed #15 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis landed the #16 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 383 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of California Davis earn around $38,819 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,218 to complete this degree.
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Boston College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $49,111 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $17,200 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame landed the #18 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $69,494 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #19 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Loyola Marymount University
Harvard University landed the #20 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 75 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $72,276 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #21 for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 88 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $41,790 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $13,952 in student loans.
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George Washington University earned the #22 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 33 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $51,201. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University earned the #23 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #24 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $33,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,044.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #25 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,152 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,699.
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Rest of the Top 50 Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong natural resources & conservation education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 428 schools evaluated.
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).