Natural Resources Management & Policy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources management & policy programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 88 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources management & policy students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Natural Resources Management & Policy School
The natural resources management & policy program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Natural Resources Management & Policy rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Natural Resources Management & Policy Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Natural Resources Management & Policy Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 school for natural resources management & policy. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 15 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $95,207 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Harvard University
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for natural resources management & policy. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 142 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $71,291 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
See the full natural resources management & policy program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong natural resources management & policy program will find one at University Of Connecticut, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $58,784 in their early career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from University Of Connecticut
Students looking for a strong natural resources management & policy program will find one at Wake Forest University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural resources management & policy details for Wake Forest University
Marist College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources management & policy, landing the #5 spot this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Marist College earn a median of $60,521 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,962.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Marist College
University Of Denver came in at #6 for natural resources management & policy this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. About 76% of students finish within six years. University Of Denver awarded about 185 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $69,861 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from University Of Denver
Auburn University came in at #7 for natural resources management & policy this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 14 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Auburn University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #8 spot for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 35 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $59,622 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry landed the #9 spot for natural resources management & policy this year. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Syracuse. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry in the most recent data year.
See the full natural resources management & policy program report for Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
Texas A And M University College Station placed #10 among the best natural resources management & policy schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $30,362 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,815 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from Texas A And M University College Station
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #11 for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 24 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,019 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full natural resources management & policy details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Texas Tech University landed the #12 spot for natural resources management & policy this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Tech University awarded about 10 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Get the full natural resources management & policy details for Texas Tech University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #13 for natural resources management & policy this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 56 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $32,516 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
See the full natural resources management & policy program report for Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #14 for natural resources management & policy this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 45 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $36,040 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,275.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Rhode Island placed #15 among the best natural resources management & policy schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 34 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $49,527. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural resources management & policy details for University Of Rhode Island
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #16 position for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $40,553. Students borrow a median of $22,132 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources management & policy program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Angelo State University earned the #17 position for natural resources management & policy this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Angelo. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 12 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Angelo State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Angelo State University earn around $46,134 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,237 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Angelo State University
University Of Miami placed #18 among the best natural resources management & policy schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $41,886 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full natural resources management & policy details for University Of Miami
Western Carolina University came in at #19 for natural resources management & policy this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Western Carolina University awarded about 26 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $36,846. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $21,962 in student loans.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Western Carolina University
Hawkeye Community College came in at #20 for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Hawkeye Community College awarded about 24 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $41,902 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,001.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Hawkeye Community College
Colorado Mountain College placed #21 among the best natural resources management & policy schools. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. About 14% of students finish within six years. About 12 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Colorado Mountain College in the most recent year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Colorado Mountain College earn a median of $48,694 early in their careers. Colorado Mountain College graduates carry a median of $12,953 in student loans.
More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from Colorado Mountain College
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Honolulu. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 62 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn around $35,117 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,835 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #23 spot for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 102 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn around $43,262 in the first couple years of their career. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
See the full natural resources management & policy program report for Colorado State University Fort Collins
American Public University System ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the town of Charles Town. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 100 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at American Public University System in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $57,404 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,438.
More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from American Public University System
Morrisville State College came in at #25 for natural resources management & policy this year. Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Morrisville. About 39% of students finish within six years. Morrisville State College awarded about 18 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Morrisville State College earn a median of $41,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Morrisville State College
Rest of the Top 32 Natural Resources Management & Policy Schools
These schools also placed among the best for natural resources management & policy this year:
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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 · 88 schools evaluated.
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).
