2026 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Iowa
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 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 Iowa
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
Kirkwood Community College earned the #1 spot for value among natural resources & conservation schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Iowa State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,995. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $38,761 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at University Of Iowa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,000. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $35,650 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Students looking for strong value in natural resources & conservation will find it at Upper Iowa University, which ranked #5. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Students borrow a median of $22,251 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $34,347. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
Luther College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Decorah, Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,120. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,967. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Luther College earn a median of $19,239 early in their careers. Set against $26,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Drake University placed #7 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
