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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in Michigan

8 Colleges in the United States
1,040 Natural Resources & Conservation Degrees Awarded
$39,566 Avg Early-Career Salary

Natural Resources & Conservation is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources & conservation programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for natural resources & conservation students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Natural Resources & Conservation in Michigan

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the natural resources & conservation degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Natural Resources & Conservation

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 ranking of the best natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 336 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $44,256 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $16,577 in student loans. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2
Calvin College crest
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI

Calvin College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #2 spot this year. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Calvin College awarded about 14 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $44,220 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,707. See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Calvin College

3
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

A rank of #3 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 223 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $42,760 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,646. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Michigan State University

4
Alma College crest
Alma College
Alma, MI

Alma College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #4. Located in the town of Alma, Alma College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 12 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Alma College in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $42,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,248 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Alma College

5

A rank of #5 makes Wayne State University one of the top schools for natural resources & conservation. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 27 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Wayne State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Wayne State University

6
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Lake Superior State University is a small public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 32 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior State University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Lake Superior State University earn a median of $34,729 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Lake Superior State University

7

Eastern Michigan University earned the #7 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 26 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Eastern Michigan University earn around $35,656 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Eastern Michigan University

8

Grand Valley State University placed #8 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 91 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $32,118 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,158 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Grand Valley State University

9
Oakland University crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University came in at #9 for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 27 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Oakland University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $31,201. Students borrow a median of $25,171 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Oakland University

10

Washtenaw Community College landed the #10 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 20 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $45,332 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Washtenaw Community College

11

University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. University Of Michigan Dearborn awarded about 24 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Michigan Dearborn earn around $62,536 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from University Of Michigan Dearborn

12

Western Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 14 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Western Michigan University earn around $21,919 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,981. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Western Michigan University

13

Michigan Technological University placed #13 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $45,771 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full natural resources & conservation details for Michigan Technological University

14
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University came in at #14 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Central Michigan University awarded about 43 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $28,430. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000. See the full natural resources & conservation program report for Central Michigan University

15

Northern Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Marquette. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 84 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Northern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $26,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,404. More information about a degree in natural resources & conservation from Northern Michigan University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 38 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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