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2026 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in North Carolina

7 Colleges in the United States
1,300 Natural Resources & Conservation Degrees Awarded
$40,575 Avg Early-Career Salary

Natural Resources & Conservation is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best natural resources & conservation schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Natural Resources & Conservation in North Carolina

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

1
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 209 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $52,122 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Duke University

2
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 20 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Wake Forest University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for natural resources & conservation. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 169 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $47,071 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,044. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

4

Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Elon University

5
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Davidson College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $41,505 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906. See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Davidson College

6

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #6 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 364 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $55,653 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,099. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

7

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $42,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

8

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 129 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $33,093 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,309 to complete this degree. See the full natural resources & conservation program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

9

Western Carolina University came in at #9 for natural resources & conservation this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. About 60% of students finish within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 41 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $36,846 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,962 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Western Carolina University

10

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #10 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates 44% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 13 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $38,400 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,089. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

11

Appalachian State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 124 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $27,631 in their early career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Appalachian State University

12
Brevard College crest
Brevard College
Brevard, NC

Brevard College came in at #12 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 15 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Brevard College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Brevard College generally make around $32,122. Students borrow a median of $26,667 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Brevard College

13

University Of North Carolina At Asheville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Asheville. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn around $25,758 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $22,880 in student loans. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from University Of North Carolina At Asheville

14

Wayne Community College placed #14 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Wayne Community College awarded about 22 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Wayne Community College

15

North Carolina Central University landed the #15 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 14 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $42,873 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,173. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for North Carolina Central University

16
Warren Wilson College crest
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

Warren Wilson College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Warren Wilson College awarded about 25 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Warren Wilson College

17

Haywood Community College earned the #17 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. There were roughly 24 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Haywood Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Haywood Community College earn around $35,767 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Haywood Community College

18
Catawba College crest
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College placed #18 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 47% of students finish within six years. Catawba College awarded about 15 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $27,389 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,794 to complete this degree. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Catawba College

View All Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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