2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Maine
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong natural resources & conservation education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
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2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Maine
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 Southern Maine tops our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools in Maine. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,513. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $24,228 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $42,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Unity College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of New Gloucester, Unity College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,640. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $27,000. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $42,334. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Colby College one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,313. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $28,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colby College admits about 7% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bates College earned it the #5 place for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,590. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $9,614. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $38,437. That is a strong return on a $9,614 median debt. Bates College admits about 13% of applicants.
University Of New England earned the #6 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Biddeford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,210. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of New England generally make around $34,434. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
