Best Natural Resources Conservation Programs in Colorado
Updated
This page ranks the 7 Natural Resources Conservation programs in Colorado by the median earnings of Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Colorado Boulder leads the list with median earnings of $63,337 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figures range from $63,337 to $37,393, with a median of $49,170. For 1 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
71% of the listed schools are public, with 5 public and 2 private nonprofit institutions on the page. Metropolitan State University of Denver posts the lowest average net price at $15,327.
University of Colorado Boulder ranks 174th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $63,337 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $63,337 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, and sits 174th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 2 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $63,175 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver posts an average net price of $15,327 and a median federal debt of $18,630 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $50,330 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| With an admission rate of 89%, Colorado State University-Fort Collins reports median earnings of $50,330 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Western Colorado University · Gunnison, CO | $49,170 | $16,425 | $11,490 | 99.7% |
| Western Colorado University admits 100% of applicants and shows a median federal debt of $19,646 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 5 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $46,492 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
| Fort Lewis College reports median earnings of $46,492 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,296. | |||||
| 6 | University of Denver · Denver, CO | $41,565 | $36,131 | $20,097 | 77.8% |
| University of Denver has an average net price of $36,131 and median earnings of $41,565 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Colorado College · Colorado Springs, CO | $37,393 | $33,375 | $9,217 | 18.5% |
| Colorado College admits 18% of applicants and carries a median federal debt of $18,257 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Environmental Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Colorado appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of Colorado Boulder to the bottom of the list is $25,944, and the gap between University of Colorado Boulder and Metropolitan State University of Denver is just $162.
Job market context in Colorado
The occupations linked to Natural Resources Conservation in Colorado include roles such as Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health, and Compliance Officers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $80,552, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $65,517. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 12.4% higher, with 1,160 projected openings a year, or about 266 openings a year for every hundred graduates, which means more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, a different measure from the occupational wage figures described here.
Related rankings
- Natural Resources Colleges in Colorado