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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Conservation Biology Schools

9 Colleges in the United States
445 Conservation Biology Degrees Awarded
$53,420 Avg Early-Career Salary

Conservation Biology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their conservation biology programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for conservation biology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Choosing a Great Conservation Biology School

Best Conservation Biology Schools

The school you choose for conservation biology can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Conservation Biology Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Conservation Biology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.

Conservation Biology Rankings by Degree Level

Associate's Degrees in Conservation Biology
Bachelor's Degrees in Conservation Biology
Master's Degrees in Conservation Biology
Doctoral Degrees in Conservation Biology

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Conservation Biology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.

Read more about College Factual’s methodology

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Best Schools for Conservation Biology in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall conservation biology education, regardless of degree level.

Top Schools in Conservation Biology

1
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in conservation biology. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 20 conservation biology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $55,795. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074. See the full conservation biology program report for Tufts University

2

Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in conservation biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 13 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $76,132. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. Read more about the conservation biology program at Columbia University In The City Of New York

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for conservation biology. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 58 conservation biology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Conservation Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $28,856 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full conservation biology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

4
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in conservation biology, ranking #4. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 17 conservation biology degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Conservation Biology graduates of Boston University earn a median of $70,479 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full conservation biology program report for Boston University

5

Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in conservation biology, ranking #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 90 conservation biology degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry in the most recent year. Read more about the conservation biology program at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry

6

Loyola University Chicago placed #6 among the best conservation biology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 10 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521. Read more about the conservation biology program at Loyola University Chicago

7

University Of Idaho placed #7 among the best conservation biology schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 17 conservation biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Idaho in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $31,656. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete this degree. Read more about the conservation biology program at University Of Idaho

8
Unity College crest
Unity College
New Gloucester, ME

Unity College earned the #8 position for conservation biology this year. Located in the rural area of New Gloucester, Unity College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 29% of students finish within six years. Unity College awarded about 181 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their conservation biology degree from Unity College earn around $36,144 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,083. More information about a degree in conservation biology from Unity College

9

University Of West Alabama placed #9 among the best conservation biology schools. University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Livingston. University Of West Alabama graduates 28% of students within six years. University Of West Alabama awarded about 16 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, conservation biology degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $53,270. Typical student debt for the program is $31,894. Get the full conservation biology details for University Of West Alabama

10

Florida Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for conservation biology this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Institute Of Technology awarded about 10 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their conservation biology degree from Florida Institute Of Technology earn around $69,878 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans. See the full conservation biology program report for Florida Institute Of Technology

11
Warren Wilson College crest
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

Warren Wilson College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best conservation biology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Swannanoa. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Warren Wilson College awarded about 13 conservation biology degrees in the most recent data year. See the full conservation biology program report for Warren Wilson College

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Conservation Biology by Region

View the Best Conservation Biology Schools for a specific region near you.

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

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Explore other rankings in majors related to Conservation Biology. See all related rankings.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 47 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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