2023 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Natural Resources Conservation School for You
In 2020-2021, 22,254 people earned a degree or certificate in natural resources conservation, making the major the #49 most popular in the United States.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. This report analyzed 287 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for conservation students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Natural Resources Conservation
Our 2023 rankings named Columbia Southern University the best value school in the United States for natural resources conservation students. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Columbia Southern University undergraduate students pay an average of $5,775 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that conservation majors at Columbia Southern University take out is $29,045.
Columbia Southern University also claimed a spot on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at American Military University are $7,360 a year. The average amount in student loans that conservation majors at American Military University take out is $25,250.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, American Military University also is in the top 5% of our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. BYU - I is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Rexburg.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BYU - I are $4,416 a year.
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Out of the 287 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Tempe, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
UOPX - Arizona undergraduate students pay an average of $9,552 in tuition and fees each year. On average, conservation graduates from UOPX - Arizona take out $45,122 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, UOPX - Arizona is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list.
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Out of the 287 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Webster University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Webster is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.
Webster undergraduate students pay an average of $28,700 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Adelphi, UMGC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMGC are $12,336 per year. While working on their degree, conservation majors at UMGC accumulate an average of around $14,031 in student debt.
UMGC also claimed a spot on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Purdue University Global ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Purdue University Global are $14,436 a year.
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South Dakota State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the town of Brookings.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 per year.
South Dakota State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list.
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With a ranking of #9, Bemidji State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources conservation students. Bemidji State University is a small public school located in the remote town of Bemidji.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bemidji State University are $9,806 per year.
Bemidji State University also claimed a spot on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. ASU - Skysong is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale.
ASU - Skysong undergraduate students pay an average of $13,092 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that conservation majors at ASU - Skysong take out is $20,490. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $245.
ASU - Skysong also claimed a spot on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #12, Youngstown State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources conservation students. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Youngstown.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year.
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University of North Georgia landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources conservation programs. UNG is a large public school located in the town of Dahlonega.
UNG undergraduate students pay an average of $16,014 in tuition and fees each year. On average, conservation graduates from UNG take out $18,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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University of Minnesota - Crookston came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Crookston, UMN Crookston is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UMN Crookston are $12,514 a year. On average, conservation graduates from UMN Crookston take out $20,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UMN Crookston also did well on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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California State University - Fullerton landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources conservation programs. Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cal State Fullerton are $18,856 a year.
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Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. Located in the fringe town of Shippensburg, Ship is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ship are $14,122 a year. While working on their degree, conservation majors at Ship accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt.
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Skagit Valley College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value natural resources conservation programs. Located in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Skagit Valley College are $7,507 per year.
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Massachusetts Maritime Academy came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. Located in the midsize suburb of Buzzards Bay, Maritime is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Maritime are $25,104 per year. Conservation majors at Maritime take out an average of $25,575 in student loans while working on their egree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Maritime also did well on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #18 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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UH Clear Lake are $20,994 per year.
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With a ranking of #20, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for natural resources conservation students. St. Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St. Cloud State University are $18,010 per year. After completing their degree, conservation graduates from St. Cloud State University carry an average student debtload of $31,000.
St. Cloud State University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list.
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Western Carolina University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. WCU is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Cullowhee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCU are $8,367 a year. Conservation majors at WCU take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Natural Resources Conservation at Western Carolina University Report
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources conservation students. It came in at #22 on the list. Kutztown University is a moderately-sized public school located in the fringe town of Kutztown.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Kutztown University are $15,170 a year. The average amount in student loans that conservation majors at Kutztown University take out is $26,250.
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University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for natural resources conservation students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
UW - Green Bay undergraduate students pay an average of $16,091 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, conservation graduates from UW - Green Bay carry an average student debtload of $22,833.
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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. Conservation majors at UW - Whitewater take out an average of $23,963 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Whitewater is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Natural Resources Conservation Schools list.
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Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools list. Clarion University is a small public school located in the town of Clarion.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clarion University are $16,052 per year.
Read full report on Natural Resources Conservation at Clarion University of Pennsylvania
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Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Natural Resources Conservation Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 45 | Queens College | Queens, NY |
| 46 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 47 | Unity College | Unity, ME |
| 48 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA |
| 49 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE |
| 50 | California State University - East Bay | Hayward, CA |
| 51 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY |
| 52 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA |
| 52 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 54 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX |
| 55 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 55 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 57 | Stockton University | Galloway, NJ |
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 |
More Natural Resources Conservation Rankings
Majors Related to Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Natural Resource Management | 2,933 |
| Wildlife Management | 2,449 |
| Forestry | 2,233 |
| Fisheries Sciences | 483 |
| Natural Resources Conservation (Other) | 151 |
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.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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