2027 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Illinois
Natural Resources & Conservation programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources & conservation programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for natural resources & conservation students.
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Best Schools for Natural Resources & Conservation in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Natural Resources & Conservation
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 21 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $78,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 46 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 19 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
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North Central College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Central College awarded about 13 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from North Central College earn around $46,247 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,699 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Wheaton College Illinois, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wheaton. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $43,654 in their early career. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 116 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $31,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #7 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 21 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $54,302 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago placed #8 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 125 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $30,797 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,042.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 27 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $36,409. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans.
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Depaul University came in at #10 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 35 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Depaul University earn around $26,381 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Depaul University
Augustana College Illinois ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 14 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $35,669. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #12 for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 24 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $57,079. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans.
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Lake Forest College landed the #13 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 13 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $26,998. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #14 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 73 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $35,398. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $21,512 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Knox College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $28,757. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Southeastern Illinois College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public university. Southeastern Illinois College awarded about 18 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year.
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More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.