Best Natural Resources Conservation Programs in the Midwest
Updated
Regional list from Natural Resources Conservation Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 69 Natural Resources Conservation programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, highest first. Kansas State University leads the list with median earnings of $72,398 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the median figure is $50,420, with a spread of $51,470 from $72,398 to $20,928. For 11 of the 69 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 47 of the programs and private nonprofits for 22. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The lowest average net price belongs to University of Minnesota-Morris at $8,837, while South Dakota State University posts the highest admission rate, admitting 98% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $72,398 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| Kansas State University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $72,398 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $69,768 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus posts an average net price of $14,600 and median earnings of $69,768 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of St Thomas · Saint Paul, MN | $69,525 | $29,155 | $28,131 | 85.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Saint Paul, University of St Thomas admits 85% of applicants and reports median earnings of $69,525 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $65,714 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor carries an admission rate of 16% and ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 5 | Minnesota State University-Mankato · Mankato, MN | $65,513 | $19,139 | $12,339 | 88.4% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,106 in federal loans at Minnesota State University-Mankato, where the Natural Resources Conservation program reports median earnings of $65,513 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $63,936 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater reports median earnings of $63,936 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,158. | |||||
| 7 | Augustana College · Rock Island, IL | $62,757 | $22,736 | $15,787 | 62.7% |
| Augustana College ranks 1049th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $62,757 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | $60,965 | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% |
| With an admission rate of 84%, Youngstown State University reports median earnings of $60,965 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $60,728 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University posts median earnings of $60,728 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 74 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 10 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $59,922 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| Oakland University reports an average net price of $9,120 and median earnings of $59,922 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Saint Johns University · Collegeville, MN | $59,718 | $25,672 | $10,354 | 90.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans at Saint Johns University, where the Natural Resources Conservation program reports median earnings of $59,718 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN | $59,549 | $13,529 | $8,909 | 94.8% |
| Saint Cloud State University admits 95% of applicants and reports median earnings of $59,549 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | University of Iowa · Iowa City, IA | $59,071 | $22,531 | $15,316 | 83.6% |
| University of Iowa reports median earnings of $59,071 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 70 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 14 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $58,119 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants and ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 15 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $57,790 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
| A private nonprofit university in Chicago, Loyola University Chicago shows median federal debt of $22,808 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 16 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $56,916 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities posts median earnings of $56,916 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $16,778. | |||||
| 17 | University of Minnesota-Duluth · Duluth, MN | $56,728 | $18,743 | $7,256 | 88.8% |
| Ranking 543rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of Minnesota-Duluth reports an average net price of $7,256 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 18 | Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN | $55,861 | $16,264 | $6,324 | 78.2% |
| Indiana University-Bloomington reports median federal debt of $18,425 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $55,861 four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $55,382 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| With an admission rate of 42%, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 20 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $55,075 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus reports median earnings of $55,075 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 69 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 21 | University of Kansas · Lawrence, KS | $54,687 | $18,059 | $12,544 | 93.5% |
| An average net price of $12,544 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median federal debt of $18,641 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed at University of Kansas. | |||||
| 22 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $54,666 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Northern Illinois University ranks 116th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $54,666 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | University of Illinois Springfield · Springfield, IL | $54,579 | $9,833 | $5,778 | 85.9% |
| University of Illinois Springfield reports median federal debt of $19,128 across all of the school's borrowers who completed and an average net price of $9,833. | |||||
| 24 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $54,315 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| Eastern Michigan University posts median earnings of $54,315 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 80%. | |||||
| 25 | Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN | $53,688 | $11,668 | $5,701 | 76.4% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis reports median earnings of $53,688 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 18 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 26 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $53,245 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
| Cleveland State University admits 91% of applicants and its Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed left with a median of $19,038 in federal loans. | |||||
| 27 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $52,631 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 82nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $17,354. | |||||
| 28 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $52,622 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Chicago, DePaul University posts median earnings of $52,622 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | Luther College · Decorah, IA | $52,296 | $23,097 | $12,517 | 71.5% |
| Luther College carries an average net price of $23,097, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 30 | Adrian College · Adrian, MI | $52,176 | $25,368 | $19,542 | 72.5% |
| Adrian College ranks 30th on this list, with an admission rate of 73% and 7 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 31 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $51,387 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| Iowa State University reports median earnings of $51,387 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,582 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $51,181 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admits 91% of applicants and its Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed left with a median of $26,937 in federal loans. | |||||
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay · Green Bay, WI | $51,048 | $13,369 | $9,144 | 88.6% |
| An average net price of $13,369 and median earnings of $51,048 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing are reported by University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. | |||||
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls · River Falls, WI | $50,797 | $14,054 | $8,472 | 81.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls posts an average net price of $14,054, and its Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed left with a median of $21,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 35 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $50,420 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| South Dakota State University ranks 35th on this list, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $23,250 in federal loans. | |||||
| 36 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $50,300 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| Northern Michigan University reports median earnings of $50,300 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $7,697 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 37 | University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI | $50,042 | $17,490 | $10,966 | 87.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout reports $50,042 in median earnings for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 38 | Gustavus Adolphus College · Saint Peter, MN | $49,758 | $22,900 | $12,015 | 61.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College admits 61% of applicants and posts an average net price of $22,900. | |||||
| 39 | University of Minnesota-Crookston · Crookston, MN | $49,610 | $12,212 | $5,758 | 87.9% |
| University of Minnesota-Crookston ranks 39th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $18,616 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 40 | University of Toledo · Toledo, OH | $49,332 | $17,249 | $13,524 | 92.0% |
| With an average net price of $13,524 for families earning under $30,000, University of Toledo sits 40th on this page and reports $49,332 in median earnings four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $49,113 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University ranks 210th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and lists 101 graduates in its Natural Resources Conservation earnings cohort. | |||||
| 42 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI | $49,074 | $14,305 | $9,236 | 86.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,500 in federal loans at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which reports $49,074 for its Natural Resources Conservation completers four years after graduating. | |||||
| 43 | University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO | $49,013 | $20,268 | $13,841 | 78.5% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia posts median earnings of $49,013 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and admits 78% of applicants. | |||||
| 44 | Bemidji State University · Bemidji, MN | $49,001 | $15,261 | $10,073 | 56.0% |
| Ranking 44th on this list, Bemidji State University shows an average net price of $10,073 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 45 | University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE | $48,942 | $13,441 | $10,534 | 87.0% |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha reports $48,942 in median earnings for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside a school-wide median federal debt of $19,000 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 46 | Carthage College · Kenosha, WI | $48,562 | $26,565 | $23,293 | 87.1% |
| A private nonprofit college in Kenosha, Carthage College ranks 1158th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and lists a median federal debt of $27,000 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 47 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $48,290 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University admits 90% of applicants and reports median earnings of $48,290 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | St Olaf College · Northfield, MN | $48,137 | $23,874 | $10,404 | 48.3% |
| With an admission rate of 48%, St Olaf College posts an average net price of $10,404 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 48th on this list. | |||||
| 49 | Manchester University · North Manchester, IN | $47,391 | $18,805 | $13,875 | 71.1% |
| Manchester University, a private nonprofit university in North Manchester, reports median earnings of $47,391 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 5 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $47,208 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
| Kent State University at Kent ranks 50th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $21,263 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 51 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $46,817 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| With an admission rate of 87%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln posts median earnings of $46,817 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $46,780 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
| University of Northern Iowa carries an average net price of $15,901 and reports median earnings of $46,780 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $46,632 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford ranks 53rd on this list, with a median federal debt of $25,500 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 54 | Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH | $46,580 | $38,645 | $18,774 | 34.2% |
| Oberlin College admits 34% of applicants and reports median earnings of $46,580 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL | $46,565 | $14,109 | $13,709 | 74.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $14,600 in federal loans at Northeastern Illinois University, which reports median earnings of $46,565 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | Macalester College · Saint Paul, MN | $45,632 | $32,149 | $13,772 | 28.5% |
| Macalester College ranks 56th on this list and reports median earnings of $45,632 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | University of Minnesota-Morris · Morris, MN | $43,584 | $8,837 | $1,694 | 74.9% |
| University of Minnesota-Morris posts an average net price of $8,837 and reports median earnings of $43,584 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 58 | Illinois Wesleyan University · Bloomington, IL | $42,682 | $28,199 | $17,732 | 39.3% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University admits 39% of applicants and reports median earnings of $42,682 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA | $41,765 | $20,942 | $17,715 | 96.5% |
| Upper Iowa University ranks 59th on this list, with a median federal debt of $14,000 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 60 | University of Dubuque · Dubuque, IA | $36,560 | $23,386 | $18,106 | 88.6% |
| University of Dubuque reports median earnings of $36,560 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 9 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 61 | Concordia College at Moorhead · Moorhead, MN | $36,141 | $24,902 | $20,950 | 62.7% |
| Concordia College at Moorhead reports median earnings of $36,141 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 62 | University of Michigan-Dearborn · Dearborn, MI | $35,060 | $9,492 | $7,211 | 55.6% |
| A public university in Dearborn, University of Michigan-Dearborn admits 56% of applicants and ranks 88th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 63 | Hamline University · Saint Paul, MN | $35,060 | $20,744 | $15,371 | 87.6% |
| Hamline University has an average net price of $15,371 for families earning under $30,000, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $35,060 four years after completing. | |||||
| 64 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $33,993 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| Ranking 64th on this list, Ball State University posts a median of $33,993 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, drawn from a cohort of 32. | |||||
| 65 | University of Missouri-Kansas City · Kansas City, MO | $32,711 | $13,310 | $10,576 | 72.2% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City carries an average net price of $13,310, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $32,711 four years after completing. | |||||
| 66 | Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI | $29,685 | $22,992 | $19,281 | 70.9% |
| Calvin University admits 71% of applicants and reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 67 | Hiram College · Hiram, OH | $29,685 | $21,058 | $16,550 | 93.5% |
| With an admission rate of 94%, Hiram College ranks 1340th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 68 | Denison University · Granville, OH | $28,236 | $40,007 | $16,656 | 17.4% |
| Denison University reports an average net price of $16,656 for families earning under $30,000, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $28,236 four years after completing. | |||||
| 69 | Knox College · Galesburg, IL | $20,928 | $24,595 | $17,134 | 70.8% |
| Knox College ranks 69th on this list, with median earnings of $20,928 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 16. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figures cover federally aided completers of the Natural Resources Conservation program who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 11 of the 69 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. Kansas State University leads the list at $72,398, with Purdue University-Main Campus just $2,630 behind at $69,768. The spread from top to bottom is $51,470.
Job market context in the Midwest
Environmental Studies in the Midwest links to occupations 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 $73,993, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $58,461. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 7,830 openings a year, or about 227 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 3.3% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the broader occupational wage figures reported here.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the Midwest
- Natural Resources Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility
- Natural Resources Colleges in the Midwest