### SUMMARY

 Studying Natural Resources Management and Policy is a valuable choice and commonly a mandatory first step for undergraduates hoping to begin a career as a naturalist, a field planner, or a wetlands restoration specialist. In fact, natural resources management and policy is a very rare major coming in at the 185th most popular major. Last year, there were 1,307 natural resources management and policy graduates. In-state tuition for natural resources management and policy at private schools is, on average, 3.8 times more pricey than their public counterparts.

 With only 80 institutions offering natural resources management and policy you might have limited options as to the institutions which will have a degree program for you. If you are looking to surround yourself with other natural resources management and policy undergrads, look at universities in Oregon which have the most students admitted to natural resources management and policy annually. More generally, the top region to study natural resources management and policy is in the Southeast region with [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college), [West Virginia University](/colleges/west-virginia-university), and [Florida Gulf Coast University](/colleges/florida-gulf-coast-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection for the top conference to study natural resources management and policy is the Big Ten Conference with [Michigan State University](/colleges/michigan-state-university), [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick), and [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus) representing the conference. On that topic, our choice for the best university for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). You might also want to check out our list of [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The best school does not mean it is the 'best' school for you. There can be tons more factors to weigh when deciding on ​university. External stuff such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food might affect one's thoughts of which university to attend. Here at Authority, we examined the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you are interested in which natural resources management and policy university has the best campus, the answer is [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick). If you are primarily interested in which college has the finest campus, we have an entire list [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more in order to compare every major in the United States in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our comprehensive list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand from that list, our choice for the college with the best student life for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). Curious why? Keep reading to find out more about our top choices. Many of our decisions will probably surprise you.

 If price is a significant factor in your decision on where to go to school, you might be cautious about [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis)&nbspappears to be the most expensive university for natural resources management and policy, at least for out of state enrollment. That being said, we have an entire list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that might put the price tag at [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you could be interested to know that natural resources management and policy is the 282nd most expensive degree in the nation, with an average cost of $25,400. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for natural resources management and policy on our list is Missouri demonstrated with a cost of $54,250 at the main school in Missouri Washington University in St Louis. To zoom out even further, the most costly region of the country for natural resources management and policy is the Plains region which is best demonstrated with [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) with a cost of $54,250, and [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](/colleges/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus) with a cost of $12,413.

 Our cheapest region for natural resources management and policy is the Southeast region which is represented by [St Petersburg College](/colleges/st-petersburg-college) with a cost of $7,774, [Western Carolina University](/colleges/western-carolina-university) with a cost of $5,000, and [Glenville State College](/colleges/glenville-state-college) with a cost of $7,020. In better news, the most affordable college for natural resources management and policy is [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college). Authority.org's comprehensive list of the most affordable schools can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying about $10,600 for a degree in natural resources management and policy. That price balloons dramatically to a median of $25,200 for an out-of-state public-school undergrad. Our pick for the university with the best value for natural resources management and policy: [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). On this page you will see our comprehensive list of the colleges we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. With that said, this list is predicated on the assumption that you are an out-of-state student. A discussion of value changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, but we do not know where you live (and are not trying to collect that kind of data).

 Earnings for natural resources management and policy majors can vary, but two years after completing the major students will often earn around $52,900. There can be much variation in salary; top earners can rake in up to $97,500. Right out of university, the lowest end jobs within the natural resources management and policy field make $28,000, which isn't that bad. The top earning grads for natural resources management and policy attended [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis)&nbspand if you are looking for schools with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The all-around diversity of natural resources management and policy ranks near the bottom, ranking within only the 10th percentile of majors nationally. The university with the most composite diversity for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis)&nbspand here you can find our general list for the colleges which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of Natural Resources Management and Policy only sits in the 69th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is even less in the 7th percentile. White undergraduates make up the largest share at 81% of those studying natural resources management and policy. Additionally, 52% of students pursuing a natural resources management and policy major are men.

 The median rating of natural resources management and policy's professors is 4.2 stars, a rating that is 5% higher than the average for all majors; which is a good score. If you are interested in the most popular natural resources management and policy professor in the country, consider looking up Charles Bamforth at [University of California-Davis](/colleges/university-of-california-davis). It may be shocking, but the best rated natural resources management and policy professors by student are at [University of California-Davis](/colleges/university-of-california-davis). As we incorporate data other than just rankings we find that the college possessing the overall best instructors for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). You can find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as some of the finest instructors nationwide.

 Finally, the most difficult school to get into for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we do have a detailed list for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we hope you understand that approaching university through a lens primarily built on superlatives can cause problems. We at Authority hope you read our more focused pages on different schools and peruse some of our helpful background articles on useful details to look out for as your school search continues.



 ### POPULARITY

 Natural resources management and policy is the 185th most popular degree in America, with 1,307 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #186 [Family and Consumer Economics](/rankings/best-colleges-for-family-and-consumer-economics), and narrowly lost to #184 [Informatics](/rankings/best-colleges-for-informatics).

 The degree is offered at a total of 80 colleges across the nation, and is the 200th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 4% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that slightly below three in every four colleges offering natural resources management and policy are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most natural resources management and policy graduates, largely led by [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Oregon ranks highest, with particular help from [Oregon State University](/colleges/oregon-state-university) and [Tuskegee University](/colleges/tuskegee-university), which graduated 113 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 management and policy). More students studied natural resources management and policy as a percentage of total students at [Unity College](/colleges/unity-college) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Natural resources management and policy is the 282nd most expensive degree in the United States, with a median cost of $25,418 among the top 50 programs.

 The Plains have the most expensive colleges with top 50 natural resources management and policy programs led by [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) with an annual cost of $54,250. Missouri is the most expensive state for natural resources management and policy also led by [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis).

 Public schools with solid programs typically charge 73.52% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 37.04% less than your average private school. So be sure to take a look at public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for natural resources management and policy is [Washington University in St Louis](/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis), which is the 70th most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Western Carolina University](/colleges/western-carolina-university). It costs just $5,000 per year, and it's ranked 38th for its natural resources management and policy program. If you’re looking for the least expensive option in the top 25, [Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College](/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-mechanical-college)  could be a good fit for you, ranked #9 with an in-state cost of just $8,038. Another more affordable choice would be #24, [Texas Tech University](/colleges/texas-tech-university) in Lubbock County, TX with a cost of $6,744 for in-state students and $16,704 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Begining college is a large investment for most students. It is critical to be assured you justify that spend. We wish for the following earnings and career info to assist you in deciding your focus at college.

 The average Natural Resources Management and Policy graduate makes a starting income of $37,813 per year (close to national median 49th percentile). Later on in their work lives, they can bring in as much as $97,516 down to $28,007, but average roughly $52,923. For context, that's 37% more than the United States average.

 The most common work title for a Natural Resources Management and Policy graduate is Engineer, which generally make approximately $59,000; next are Consultant and Service Technician, which for the most part earn near $56,000 and $26,000 respectively.

 The most well paid region for Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates is New England. RI has the highest earning Natural Resources Management and Policy alumni of any state. The best paid conference for Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates is Western Athletic Conference.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Natural Resources Management and Policy: Median Professor Rating: 4.2 / 5, which is above average.

 Instructors oftentimes play an astronomical role in shaping your college experience, no matter what you major in. An effective instructor could help a student find their passion and even make a difficult subject seem easy. On the flip side, a poor professor can derail your development or even worse... fail you!

 Professors of Natural Resources Management and Policy have a median student rating of 4.2 / 5, putting these professors in the top 34th percentile in America grounded in overall professor effectivness. For context a 4.2 rating is 5% over the national median professor rating for all subjects. Natural Resources Management and Policy professors barely out-ranked those from ["Informatics"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-informatics), whereas ["Insurance"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-insurance)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Natural Resources Management and Policy.

 Now for some statistics about Natural Resources Management and Policy professors. Colleges located in fringe towns tend to have the best Natural Resources Management and Policy professors. The Sun Belt Conference has the highest rated Natural Resources Management and Policy professors. The Southeast region has the highest rated Natural Resources Management and Policy professors. Private institutions tend to have higher rated Natural Resources Management and Policy professors than public institutions. Finally, Alabama has the highest rated Natural Resources Management and Policy professors in the United States.

 Charles Bamforth, instructor at [University of California-Davis](/colleges/university-of-california-davis)&nbspin Davis, CA is the most popular Natural Resources Management and Policy professor in the nation. Adam Reeves, instructor at [Northwest Vista College](/colleges/northwest-vista-college)&nbspin San Antonio, TX is the highest rated Natural Resources Management and Policy professor in the United States, with a rating of 5 / 5.

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



### STUDENTS

 College can be one of the more significant times of one's life; it is an occasion for individual progress and development. Pupils continue to capture what they dream to do and build the necessary skills to be a halcyon adult. But growth isn't confined to a classroom environment - the conversations which one has with his schoolmates, the life lesson received from an old professor, the exposure to a different outlook. As such, attending a diverse college tremendously improves what you gain from your time in school.

 Natural Resources Management and Policy is in the bottom 10% of subjects for racial diversity\*. 81% of the US' Natural Resources Management and Policy majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(8%), latino students (6%), and asian students (2%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [California State University-Bakersfield](/colleges/california-state-university-bakersfield)&nbspin Bakersfield, CA.

 Additionally, Natural Resources Management and Policy is diverse regarding sex, with 48% of students majoring in Natural Resources Management and Policy identifying as women. [Michigan State University](/colleges/michigan-state-university) in East Lansing, MI has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another substantial type of diversity is socioeconomic diversity. Natural Resources Management and Policy is more financially diverse than 69% of majors. 29% of its students come from families making north of $110,000 per year, 16% are from households that bring in between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 24% grew up in homes with a sub $30,000 annual income. [University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point](/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-stevens-point) has the most financially diverse students in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall HI is the most diverse state for Natural Resources Management and Policy. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Western Athletic Conference 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: 2%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 6%
* White: 81%
* Other: 8%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 52%
* Female: 48%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 24%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 29%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 73%
* Out of State: 23%
* International: 3%


University of Georgia

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Carnegie Mellon University

University of California-Berkeley

Cornell University

Florida State University

University of Miami

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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

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Ohio State University-Main Campus

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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

University of California-Davis

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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

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Top 25 Best Colleges for Natural Resources Management and Policy

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There are about 7,756 students enrolled in Natural Resources Management and Policy in the USA.

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2023 Natural Resources Management and Policy Professors

There are about 7,756 students enrolled in Natural Resources Management and Policy in the USA.

PROFESSORS