2026 Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools in the Southeast Region
[Natural Resource Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resource management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find the best return on investment for natural resource management students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resource management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resource Management Schools
Southern Regional Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resource management schools in the Southeast Region. Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thomasville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the natural resource management program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in natural resource management will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #2. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $34,017. Natural Resource Management graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $38,766 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in natural resource management will find it at Ogeechee Technical College, which ranked #3. Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Statesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,388, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $11,894. Natural Resource Management graduates of Ogeechee Technical College earn a median of $35,521 early in their careers. Set against $11,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes American Public University System one of the best values for natural resource management. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Natural Resource Management graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Gulf Coast University earned it the #5 place for natural resource management. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Natural Resource Management graduates carry a median of $21,730 in student loans. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $30,818. That is a strong return on a $21,730 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #6 spot for natural resource management value this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $22,748. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $33,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University came in at #7 for value in natural resource management this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,962 to complete the natural resource management program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $36,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
West Virginia University placed #8 among the best values for natural resource management. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the natural resource management program here. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $47,232. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #9 position for value in natural resource management this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $21,792. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #10 for value in natural resource management this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Natural Resource Management graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $59,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Glenville State College came in at #11 for value in natural resource management this year. Glenville State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Glenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,578, with out-of-state students paying around $11,354. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $23,250. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $42,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Tennessee placed #12 among the best values for natural resource management. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $22,859. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #13 for value in natural resource management this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the natural resource management program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College generally make around $32,516. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #14 spot for natural resource management value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the natural resource management program here. Early-career natural resource management graduates make about $71,291. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Auburn University landed the #15 spot for natural resource management value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for natural resource management graduates is $22,803. Natural Resource Management graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Wake Forest University placed #16 among the best values for natural resource management. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the natural resource management program here. Soon after graduation, natural resource management degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Everglades University came in at #17 for value in natural resource management this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Everglades University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,680. Students borrow a median of $47,000 to complete the natural resource management program here. Natural Resource Management graduates of Everglades University earn a median of $41,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami placed #18 among the best values for natural resource management. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the natural resource management program here. Natural Resource Management graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $41,886 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
