2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Illinois
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value natural resources & conservation schools.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources & conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,925. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $57,079 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $36,409 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #4 place for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $31,369. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #6 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $21,512. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $35,398. Set against $21,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #7 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Northwestern University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Lake Forest College placed #9 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,402. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,661. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $26,998. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $26,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #11 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $24,042 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $30,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
