2026 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Montana
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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best natural resources & conservation schools.
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Best Schools for Natural Resources & Conservation in Montana
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
Leading the list is Montana State University, our #1 school for natural resources & conservation. This large public university is located in the city of Bozeman. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 103 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Montana State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Montana State University earn around $36,745 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,040.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Montana State University
The University Of Montana Western is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. This small public university is located in the town of Dillon. About 54% of students finish within six years. The University Of Montana Western awarded about 13 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $36,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,484 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at The University Of Montana Western
Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at The University Of Montana, which ranked #3. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. The University Of Montana awarded about 183 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from The University Of Montana earn around $29,376 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Montana graduates carry a median of $21,471 in student loans.
Get the full natural resources & conservation details for The University Of Montana
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 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.
