2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Arizona

[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Arizona
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
For return on investment in natural resources & conservation, no school beat Arizona State University this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,479 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $47,728. Set against $22,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Phoenix Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $44,087. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona generally make around $44,590. That is a strong return on a $44,087 median debt.
Northern Arizona University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,694 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $39,589 early in their careers. Set against $21,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for natural resources & conservation. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $22,483 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $30,645. Set against $22,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Prescott College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,490. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $23,125. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Prescott College earn a median of $42,966 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Prescott College admits about 94% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $56,285 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
More Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings
View All Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings >
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 · 19 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.