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2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

147 Colleges
$20,200 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$35,158 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Natural Resources & Conservation School for You

In 2020-2021, 5,744 people earned a degree or certificate in natural resources and conservation, making the major the #24 most popular in the United States.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Grad Degree Search has developed this Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 147 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for natural resources and conservation students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the United States

Check out the natural resources and conservation programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools

#1

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, AL
$5,775 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best value school in the United States for natural resources and conservation students. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit college with a large student population.

Columbia Southern University undergraduate students pay an average of $5,775 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Columbia Southern University

$7,360 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 147 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

American Military University undergraduate students pay an average of $7,360 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

#3

Webster University

Saint Louis, MO
$28,700 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Webster University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Webster are $28,700 a year.

Read More…

#4

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH
$9,732 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Youngstown State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Youngstown.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year.

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$9,806 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 147 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Bemidji State University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Bemidji State University is a small public school located in the town of Bemidji.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bemidji State University are $9,806 per year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at Bemidji State University Report

$13,092 Average Tuition & Fees

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources and conservation programs. ASU - Skysong is a fairly large public school located in the city of Scottsdale.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASU - Skysong are $13,092 per year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Arizona State University - Skysong

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources and conservation programs. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public college with a large student population.

North Dakota State University undergraduate students pay an average of $14,876 in tuition and fees each year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State University also is in the top 15% of our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking.

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South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #8 on the list. South Dakota State is a large public school located in the town of Brookings.

South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year.

South Dakota State also claimed a spot on our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

$18,856 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fullerton.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cal State Fullerton are $18,856 a year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at California State University - Fullerton Report

$20,994 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking. UH Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Houston.

UH Clear Lake undergraduate students pay an average of $20,994 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Houston - Clear Lake Report

#11

Goucher College

Baltimore, MD

With a ranking of #11, Goucher College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. Goucher is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Baltimore.

Goucher undergraduate students pay an average of $48,200 in tuition and fees each year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Goucher also is in the top 20% of our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking.

Read More…

#12

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN
$14,436 Average Tuition & Fees

Purdue University Global did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public school with a very large student population.

Purdue University Global undergraduate students pay an average of $14,436 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Purdue University Global

$21,616 Average Tuition & Fees

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources and conservation programs. SFASU is a fairly large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches.

SFASU undergraduate students pay an average of $21,616 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at Stephen F Austin State University Report

$14,122 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Ship is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ship are $14,122 per year.

Read More…

#15

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #15 on the list. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at San Jose State are $19,732 a year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, San Jose State also is in the top 10% of our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools ranking.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at San Jose State University Report

#16

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

University of Delaware ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list. UD is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Newark.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UD are $36,880 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, UD is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Delaware

$16,091 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Green Bay are $16,091 a year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Report

$14,615 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #18, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. SRU is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Slippery Rock.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SRU are $14,615 per year.

Read More…

#19

Unity College

Unity, ME
$12,640 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Unity College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. Unity is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Unity.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Unity are $12,640 per year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at Unity College

$18,857 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources and conservation programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Springfield, UIS is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UIS are $18,857 a year.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Illinois at Springfield

#21

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX
$22,559 Average Tuition & Fees

Texas State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the small city of San Marcos, Texas State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Texas State undergraduate students pay an average of $22,559 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Natural Resources & Conservation at Texas State University Report

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources and conservation students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Lincoln, UNL is a public school with a very large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNL are $26,720 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, UNL is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools list.

Read full report on Natural Resources & Conservation at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great value schools for Natural Resources & Conservation graduate students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools award.

Rank College Location
23 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX
24 Clemson University Clemson, SC
24 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
26 University of Georgia Athens, GA
27 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Norman, OK
28 Michigan Technological University Houghton, MI
29 University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA

Natural Resources & Conservation by Region

View the Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Natural Resources & Conservation Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Natural Resources Conservation 3,724
Natural Resource Management 1,073
Forestry 486
Wildlife Management 323
Fisheries Sciences 106
Natural Resources Conservation (Other) 32

Related Major Annual Graduates
Engineering 61,791
Computer & Information Sciences 60,971
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 28,851
Mathematics & Statistics 15,127
Physical Sciences 12,705

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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