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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Natural Resources Management & Policy Schools in the Southeast Region

8 Colleges in the United States
441 Natural Resources Management & Policy Degrees Awarded
$50,655 Avg Early-Career Salary

Natural Resources Management & Policy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for natural resources management & policy students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Natural Resources Management & Policy in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the natural resources management & policy degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Natural Resources Management & Policy

1

No school ranked higher than Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University this year for natural resources management & policy. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $71,291. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

2
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 10 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources management & policy degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree. Get the full natural resources management & policy details for Wake Forest University

3
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

A rank of #3 makes Auburn University one of the top schools for natural resources management & policy. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at Auburn University

4

North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

5

Students looking for a strong natural resources management & policy program will find one at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 56 natural resources management & policy students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Management & Policy graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $32,516 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resources management & policy from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

6
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

University Of Miami came in at #6 for natural resources management & policy this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 33 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $41,886 in their early career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at University Of Miami

7

Western Carolina University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 26 natural resources management & policy degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from Western Carolina University earn around $36,846 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,962. See the full natural resources management & policy program report for Western Carolina University

8

American Public University System ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources management & policy schools. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. 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. Students who receive their natural resources management & policy degree from American Public University System earn around $57,404 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,438. Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at American Public University System

9

The University Of Tennessee Martin earned the #9 position for natural resources management & policy this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 25 natural resources management & policy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources management & policy program make about $33,543 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,748. Read more about the natural resources management & policy program at The University Of Tennessee Martin

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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