2026 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Virginia
Natural Resources & Conservation is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 28 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 Virginia
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
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 120 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $51,264 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,952.
Get the full natural resources & conservation details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Richmond is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #2. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 11 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at University Of Richmond
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 407 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $60,249 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,010 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 59 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $43,038 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,021.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for George Mason University
Bridgewater College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #5. Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Bridgewater College graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater College in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Bridgewater College earn a median of $38,838 early in their careers. Bridgewater College graduates carry a median of $26,423 in student loans.
Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Bridgewater College
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #6 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $32,038 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Virginia Commonwealth University
Roanoke College placed #7 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Roanoke College awarded about 17 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Roanoke College earn around $39,588 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Roanoke College
Dabney S Lancaster Community College earned the #8 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the rural area of Clifton Forge, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a small public university. Dabney S Lancaster Community College awarded about 16 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Dabney S Lancaster Community College
Mountain Empire Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Big Stone Gap. About 23 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Mountain Empire Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College generally make around $36,988. Typical student debt for the program is $9,036.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Mountain Empire Community College
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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 · 28 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.
