2027 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the Southeast Region
Natural Resources & Conservation degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 109 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources & conservation students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Natural Resources & Conservation in the Southeast Region
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 Duke University, our #1 school for natural resources & conservation. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 231 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median of $49,677 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus 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.
Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #3. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 106 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $51,264 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,952 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Wake Forest University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 19 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Wake Forest University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 136 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $47,071. Typical student debt for the program is $12,044.
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Elon University landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 26 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
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University Of Richmond came in at #7 for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Richmond graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Richmond earn around $53,815 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 388 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $59,907. Typical student debt for the program is $22,010.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
The University Of Alabama placed #9 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 35 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,807.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for The University Of Alabama
Davidson College earned the #10 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Davidson College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University landed the #11 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Florida State University awarded about 153 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Florida State University earn around $30,146 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,979.
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Clemson University placed #12 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clemson University awarded about 143 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Clemson University earn around $46,443 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Clemson University
Auburn University came in at #13 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 198 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $51,215. Typical student debt for the program is $20,581.
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The University Of Tampa landed the #14 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 37 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at The University Of Tampa in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $45,401 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,191.
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Rhodes College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Memphis. Rhodes College graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Rhodes College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $40,807. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Rhodes College
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #16 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 310 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $55,080 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $24,099 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Belmont University placed #17 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 10 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $49,699 in their early career. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #18 for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 118 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $33,700 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $19,709 in student loans.
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University Of Florida landed the #19 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 339 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Florida earn around $42,766 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,563.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from University Of Florida
Christopher Newport University placed #20 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. Christopher Newport University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Christopher Newport University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Christopher Newport University earn around $41,656 in the first couple years of their career. Christopher Newport University graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #21 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 180 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $36,048. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,840 in student loans.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
George Mason University earned the #22 position for natural resources & conservation this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $43,038. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,021 in student loans.
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Kennesaw State University earned the #23 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University graduates 52% of students within six years. About 34 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Kennesaw State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Kennesaw State University earn around $53,824 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,004.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Kennesaw State University
University Of Miami placed #24 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. University Of Miami awarded about 121 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $41,886 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from University Of Miami
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #25 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. About 24 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $27,339 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s natural resources & conservation ranking:
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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 · 109 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.