2026 Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/natural-resource-recreation-and-tourism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resource recreation & tourism students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resource recreation & tourism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Wyoming the best value for a degree in natural resource recreation & tourism in the Rocky Mountains Region. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resource recreation & tourism degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $49,890. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Montana one of the best values for natural resource recreation & tourism. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resource recreation & tourism graduates is $24,342. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. Set against $24,342 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in natural resource recreation & tourism will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the natural resource recreation & tourism program here. Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $43,262 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
