Natural Resources & Conservation programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1206 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources & conservation students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for natural resources & conservation. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 16 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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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. There were roughly 74 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $81,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 32 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $68,303 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,553.
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University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $10,160 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong natural resources & conservation program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 11 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 79 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $37,524. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #7 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. 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. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $31,944 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Boston University landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 31 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $63,598 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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Duke University came in at #9 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 177 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $37,613 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,875.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 14 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $64,831 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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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 441 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $47,338 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $12,988 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. 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 landed the #13 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $56,077. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #14 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $41,152 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,699 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #15 for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 103 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $41,790 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,952 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 83 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year.
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Drake University came in at #17 for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of California Davis earned the #18 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 365 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $38,756. Students borrow a median of $15,218 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University earned the #19 position for natural resources & conservation this year. 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 earned the #20 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 24 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Texas Christian University earned the #21 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 12 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
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George Washington University placed #22 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. 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. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama landed the #23 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 45 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $20,807 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 20 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Wake Forest University
Lehigh University landed the #25 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
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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 · 1206 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).
