Natural Resources Conservation degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1089 schools to find the best for natural resources conservation students.
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for natural resources conservation. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 16 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $78,551 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources conservation, ranking #2. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 35 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Washington University In St Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 64 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,160.
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Students looking for a strong natural resources conservation program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $84,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego earned the #6 position for natural resources conservation this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 79 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $37,524 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 126 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $31,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Boston University landed the #8 spot for natural resources conservation this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 31 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
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Duke University came in at #9 for natural resources conservation this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 155 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median of $28,121 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #10 among the best natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 14 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $64,831. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley landed the #11 spot for natural resources conservation this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 426 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $47,338 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,988 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for natural resources conservation this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 28 natural resources conservation students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #13 for natural resources conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 19 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $69,494 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,625.
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University Of Dayton came in at #14 for natural resources conservation this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 15 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from University Of Dayton earn around $56,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,152 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,699 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 103 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $13,952 to complete this degree.
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Drake University placed #17 among the best natural resources conservation schools. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 21 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Drake University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis landed the #18 spot for natural resources conservation this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 255 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $38,954 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,200 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 53 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #20 spot for natural resources conservation this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $52,935 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
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Texas Christian University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Texas Christian University awarded about 11 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources conservation degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
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Wake Forest University came in at #22 for natural resources conservation this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 10 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $67,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University placed #23 among the best natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $51,201 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama earned the #24 position for natural resources conservation this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 45 natural resources conservation degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources conservation degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Typical student debt for the program is $20,807.
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Lehigh University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources conservation schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Lehigh University awarded about 11 natural resources conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources conservation program make about $70,321 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008.
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Rest of the Top 50 Natural Resources Conservation Schools
These schools also placed among the best for natural resources conservation this year:
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 · 1089 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).
