Natural Resources & Conservation programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural resources & conservation programs.
College Factual analyzed 1206 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best natural resources & conservation schools.
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in natural resources & conservation. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 168 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Duke University earn a median of $68,040 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in natural resources & conservation, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 157 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $64,831 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 30 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for natural resources & conservation. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $60,738 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,952.
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Yale University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in natural resources & conservation, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 157 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $75,985. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin placed #6 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $57,819 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #7 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 155 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $37,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,676 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 94 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $26,899. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $22,692 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California earned the #9 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 10 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $10,160 in student loans.
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Clemson University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 98 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $47,262 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #11 position for natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 347 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $58,170 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,010 to complete this degree.
Read more about the natural resources & conservation program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Georgetown University earned the #12 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $79,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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New York University placed #13 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 14 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $64,516 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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Harvard University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 144 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $72,276 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis placed #15 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 321 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of California Davis earn around $38,716 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,218.
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George Washington University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 26 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. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full natural resources & conservation program report for George Washington University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #17 for natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 329 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $59,248 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,577.
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Auburn University placed #18 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 184 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $51,193. Students borrow a median of $20,581 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best natural resources & conservation schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 403 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural resources & conservation program make about $55,039 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,533 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #20 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 139 natural resources & conservation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $61,502 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $12,988 in student loans.
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University Of Denver earned the #21 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 178 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $68,983 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $25,899 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #22 for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 natural resources & conservation students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $62,493 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Tufts University placed #23 among the best natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $40,044. Typical student debt for the program is $18,050.
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University Of Maryland College Park landed the #24 spot for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 14 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,152 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,699 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #25 position for natural resources & conservation this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 12 natural resources & conservation degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their natural resources & conservation degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $62,270 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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Rest of the Top 50 Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s natural resources & conservation ranking:
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).
