### SUMMARY

 Majoring in Natural Resources and Conservation is a valuable choice and typically a required first step for undergrads trying to begin a career as an environmental educator, a preserve manager, or a gis systems specialist. Interestingly, natural resources and conservation is a fairly common choice being the 28th most popular area of study. Last academic year, there were 21,077 natural resources and conservation degrees conferred. In-state tuition for natural resources and conservation at private colleges is, on average, 4.5 times more expensive than their public rivals.

 With an impressive 820 schools offering natural resources and conservation odds are that any colleges you are excited about will have a degree program for you. If you're hoping to surround yourself with other natural resources and conservation students, look at institutions in California which have the most undergraduates admitted to natural resources and conservation annually. Zooming out, the best region to major in natural resources and conservation is in the Far West region with [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), [University of California-Santa Barbara](/colleges/university-of-california-santa-barbara), and [Humboldt State University](/colleges/humboldt-state-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick for the best conference to major in natural resources and conservation is the Pacific-12 Conference with [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), [Oregon State University](/colleges/oregon-state-university), and [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/colleges/university-of-washington-seattle-campus) representing the conference. From our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our belief is that the best college for natural resources and conservation is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university).

 The objectively 'best' school does not have to be the best school for you. There might be a bunch more perspectives to consider when selecting college. External stuff such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food could modify your thoughts on which university to attend. Here at Authority, we weighed the pros and cons for you. If, as an example, you want to know which natural resources and conservation university has the best campus, the answer is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). If, for example, you are very interested in which university has the finest campus, we have an entire page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, student reviews, professor reviews, and more so we can evaluate every major in the United States in an unbiased and informative way. You can explore our well researched list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and, from that list, our pick for the university with the best student life for natural resources and conservation is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Curious why? Continue scrolling to learn more about our top choices. Many of our picks just might shock you.

 If price is a major deciding factor in your decision on where to go to school, you might consider avoiding [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspappears to be our most expensive school for natural resources and conservation, at least for out of state students. We do have an entire list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that could put the price tag of [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you could be interested to know that natural resources and conservation is the 32nd most expensive degree in the United States, with an average bill of $51,800. To zoom out a little, the most expensive state for natural resources and conservation in the nation is District of Columbia at American University and George Washington University, the primary universities in the state, of $49,070 and $54,453. To zoom out even further, the most expensive region of the country for natural resources and conservation is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Amherst College](/colleges/amherst-college) with a cost of $57,640, [Tufts University](/colleges/tufts-university) with a cost of $57,324, and [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university) with a cost of $57,112.

 Our cheapest region for natural resources and conservation is the Southwest region which is represented by [New Mexico Highlands University](/colleges/new-mexico-highlands-university) with a cost of $8,712, [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](/colleges/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus) with a cost of $5,994, and [West Texas A & M University](/colleges/west-texas-a-m-university) with a cost of $6,960. In better news, the most affordable school for natural resources and conservation is [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](/colleges/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry). Authority's comprehensive list of the most affordable colleges can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying around $9,900 for a degree in natural resources and conservation. That price swells by a lot to a median of $23,000 for an out-of-state public-school student. Our selection for the college with the best value for natural resources and conservation: [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university). Here you will find our comprehensive list of the colleges we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. Do know, this idea is based on being an out-of-state student. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, as such, we are using out-of-state tuition as the baseline.

 Earnings for natural resources and conservation majors can vary, but two years after graduation graduates will often make in the neighborhood of $52,800. While there is much variation in earnings potential; top earners can bring in up to $97,900. Straight out of college, the lowest end positions within the natural resources and conservation field earn $28,100, which could be worse. The top earning grads for natural resources and conservation studied at [Duke University](/colleges/duke-university)&nbspand if you are looking for universities with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The all-around diversity of natural resources and conservation stands below average, coming in the 44th percentile of all majors. The university with the highest composite diversity for natural resources and conservation is [Brown University](/colleges/brown-university)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the colleges which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of the Natural Resources and Conservation major is only within the 18th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is actually above financial diversity, ranking in the 33rd percentile. White undergraduates make up the largest share, 68%, of students majoring in natural resources and conservation. Additionally, 57% of scholars seeking a natural resources and conservation major are women.

 The median score for natural resources and conservation's professors is 4 stars, a rating which is actually the median across all majors; this is a fine. If you are interested in the most popular natural resources and conservation instructor nationally, take a look at Jeffrey Wilson from [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley). This may be a shock, but the top rated instructors of natural resources and conservation according to students come from [University of California-Davis](/colleges/university-of-california-davis). If we incorporate data beyond simply rankings it becomes clear that the college with the best professors for natural resources and conservation is [Johns Hopkins University](/colleges/johns-hopkins-university). You will find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as some of the finest instructors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult university to get into for natural resources and conservation is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we have a detailed list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). Although, here at Authority we do hope you believe that approaching college through a lens mainly built on superlatives could cause problems. We at Authority encourage you to look at some of our more focused pages on different topics and explore a couple of our background pages on useful details to think about as you continue your university search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Natural resources and conservation is the 28th most popular degree in America, with 21,077 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #29 [Engineering Technologies](/rankings/best-colleges-for-engineering-technologies), and narrowly lost to #27 [Mathematics](/rankings/best-colleges-for-mathematics).

 The degree is offered at a total of 820 colleges across the nation, and is the 22nd most widely offered degree. Given that natural resources and conservation is offered at 77% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that slightly less than five ninths of colleges offering natural resources and conservation are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The far west produces the most natural resources and conservation graduates, largely led by [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), while it’s the Pacific-12 Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) and [University of California-Santa Barbara](/colleges/university-of-california-santa-barbara).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more natural resources and conservation graduates than [Lurleen B Wallace Community College](/colleges/lurleen-b-wallace-community-college), which graduated 556 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study natural resources and conservation). More students studied natural resources and conservation as a percentage of total students at [Skagit Valley College](/colleges/skagit-valley-college) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Natural resources and conservation is the 32nd most expensive degree in the nation, with a median cost of $51,788 amongst the top 50 programs.

 New England has the most expensive colleges with top-notch natural resources and conservation programs predominantly led by [Amherst College](/colleges/amherst-college) with an annual cost of $57,640. The most expensive state for natural resources and conservation is District of Columbia led by [American University](/colleges/american-university) and [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university).

 Public schools with good programs generally charge 77.72% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 48.5% less than the median private school. So, if you're hoping to attend a state school, make sure you're eligible for in-state tuition as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for natural resources and conservation is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in the United States. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Florida State University](/colleges/florida-state-university). It costs just $16,540 per year, but it is its natural resources and conservation program is ranked #68. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable option, [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](/colleges/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry)  might be right for you, ranked #6 with an in-state cost of just $7,070. Another more affordable option would be #8, [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida) in Alachua County, FL with a cost of $4,477 for in-state students and $25,694 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 College is an important investment for most students. It's important to ensure you boost your earning power. It is our goal that the following job placement and income facts help you make an intelligent decision when electing your major.

 Fresh out of college, Natural Resources and Conservation majors make $37,020 a year on average (close to national median 53rd percentile). After some time in their professional lives, they often take in anywhere between $28,075 and $97,858, but average roughly $52,768. Just so you know, that's 37% more than average.

 The most common job title for a Natural Resources and Conservation graduate is Engineer, which commonly earn more or less $59,000; next are Consultant and Service Technician, which commonly earn about $56,000 and $26,000 respectively.

 The Southwest has the highest earning Natural Resources and Conservation graduates. The best paid state for Natural Resources and Conservation alumni is AL. The most well paid conference for Natural Resources and Conservation graduates is Patriot League.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Natural Resources and Conservation: Median Professor Rating: 4 / 5, which is average.

 Instructors constantly play a hefty role in shaping your college experience, no matter what you study. A thought-provoking teacher could provide inspiration and set a student up for future success. Contrarily, an unpleasant professor can turn you off of a subject or even worse... fail you!

 Natural Resources and Conservation professors have a median student rating of 4 / 5, which puts them in the upper 52nd percentile in the US grounded in overall professor effectivness. Suprisingly, this major is exactly the median for professor rating, which, in our opinion, is remarkably average! Professors of Natural Resources and Conservation just edged-out those from ["Agriculture"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-agriculture), whereas ["Civil Engineering"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-civil-engineering)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Natural Resources and Conservation.

 Now for some statistics about Natural Resources and Conservation professors. Colleges located in fringe rural areas tend to have the best Natural Resources and Conservation professors. The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has the highest rated Natural Resources and Conservation professors. The Plains region has the highest rated Natural Resources and Conservation professors. Public universities tend to have higher rated Natural Resources and Conservation professors than private schools. Finally, Iowa has the highest rated Natural Resources and Conservation professors in the nation.

 Jeffrey Wilson, instructor at [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](/colleges/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley)&nbspin Edinburg, TX is the most popular Natural Resources and Conservation professor in the United States. Joseph Villari, professor at [George Mason University](/colleges/george-mason-university)&nbspin Fairfax, VA is the highest rated Natural Resources and Conservation professor in the nation, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Take a look at which universities have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College can be a supremely constructive time of one's life; it's an opportunity for personal progress and evolution. Undergraduates continue to figure out who they can be and develop many of the required skills to become a halcyon adult. But learning is more than sitting in the classroom - the conversations one has with their peers, the personal lesson received from an old instructor, the exposure to a different attitude. As such, attending a diverse college greatly enriches what you gain from your time at university.

 Natural Resources and Conservation is a less ethnically diverse major than average\*. 68% of the US' Natural Resources and Conservation majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(13%), latino students (10%), and asian students (7%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of California-Los Angeles](/colleges/university-of-california-los-angeles) located in Los Angeles, CA.

 Furthermore, Natural Resources and Conservation significatly skews female, with 57% of students majoring in Natural Resources and Conservation identifying as women. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Trinity College](/colleges/trinity-college) in Hartford, CT.

 Another significant type of diversity is class diversity. Unfortunately, Natural Resources and Conservation is one of America's least financially diverse subjects (Bottom 19%). 34% of its majors come from households who earn north of $110,000 per year, 16% are from middle income families, and 21% grew up in households with a sub $30,000 annual income. [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill) has the most fiscally diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall CA is the most diverse state for Natural Resources and Conservation. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the California Collegiate Athletic Association is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 7%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 10%
* White: 68%
* Other: 13%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 43%
* Female: 57%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 21%
* 30k - 48k: 14%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 34%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 60%
* Out of State: 32%
* International: 9%


Cornell University

University of California-Berkeley

Washington University in St Louis

University of Miami

Carnegie Mellon University

Florida State University

Texas A & M University-College Station

University of Georgia

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Colby College

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Purdue University-Main Campus

Pitzer College

University of Maryland-College Park

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

University of California-Davis

Clemson University

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Michigan State University

Auburn University

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Michigan Technological University

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Top 25 Best Colleges for Natural Resources and Conservation

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There are about 83,798 students enrolled in Natural Resources and Conservation in the USA.

2024 Best Colleges for Natural Resources and Conservation

2023 Natural Resources and Conservation Professors

There are about 83,798 students enrolled in Natural Resources and Conservation in the USA.

PROFESSORS