Best Natural Resources Conservation Programs in the West
Updated
Regional list from Natural Resources Conservation Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 65 Natural Resources Conservation programs in the West by median earnings of Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. University of Southern California ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $78,731 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $78,731 to $25,194, with a median of $55,240. For 10 of the 65 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 71% of the list, with 46 public and 19 private nonprofit schools represented. California State University-San Bernardino posts the lowest average net price at $4,564.
University of California-San Diego ranks 1st 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 Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $78,731 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| University of Southern California ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $78,731 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $78,624 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| With an admission rate of 11%, University of California-Berkeley posts median earnings of $78,624 four years after completing and counts 430 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $75,927 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
| University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants, the lowest on this page, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $75,927 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $72,889 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
| Santa Clara University, a private nonprofit university in Santa Clara, shows median federal debt of $24,500 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $72,889 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $69,531 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| California State University-Chico posts median earnings of $69,531 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,480. | |||||
| 6 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $69,077 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| Sonoma State University ranks 6th on this list, with an average net price of $12,885 and median earnings of $69,077 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $69,061 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
| Reporting median earnings of $69,061 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 8 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $67,795 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento admits 94% of applicants and reports median earnings of $67,795 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $65,983 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
| University of California-Davis reports median earnings of $65,983 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 227 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 10 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $64,944 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| Among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, University of California-Riverside shows median federal debt of $16,250, and its graduates earn a median of $64,944 four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $63,628 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
| An average net price of $16,109 coincides with median earnings of $63,628 four years after completing at University of California-Santa Barbara, which ranks 11th on this list. | |||||
| 12 | Seattle University · Seattle, WA | $63,465 | $34,662 | $22,896 | 76.9% |
| Seattle University, a private nonprofit university in Seattle, reports median earnings of $63,465 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $63,337 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| University of Colorado Boulder reports median earnings of $63,337 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $25,346. | |||||
| 14 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $63,175 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
| With an admission rate of 99%, Metropolitan State University of Denver ranks 14th on this list and shows median earnings of $63,175 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $63,040 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach carries median federal debt of $14,000 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $63,040. | |||||
| 16 | University of Idaho · Moscow, ID | $62,791 | $14,831 | $11,270 | 75.5% |
| University of Idaho ranks 456th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $62,791 four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $62,116 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| Graduates of San Francisco State University's Natural Resources Conservation program earn a median of $62,116 four years after completing, and the school reports an average net price of $12,278. | |||||
| 18 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $60,369 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion admits 90% of applicants and posts median earnings of $60,369 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $60,015 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Spokane, Gonzaga University reports median earnings of $60,015 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $35,119. | |||||
| 20 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $59,908 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $59,908 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA | $59,542 | $38,263 | $20,705 | 44.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Occidental College with a median of $23,000 in federal loans, while its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $59,542 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $59,333 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
| California State University-East Bay reports an average net price of $9,320 and median earnings of $59,333 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $58,961 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
| Portland State University ranks 23rd on this list, with median earnings of $58,961 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and median federal debt of $25,000 among those completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 24 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $58,517 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| University of San Diego admits 52% of applicants, and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $58,517 four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $58,229 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
| Ranks 25th on this list, University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports median earnings of $58,229 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 26 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $58,215 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| Median earnings of $58,215 for Natural Resources Conservation graduates of San Diego State University four years after completing coincide with a median federal debt of $12,726 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 27 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $58,106 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
| With an admission rate of 91%, Eastern Washington University posts median earnings of $58,106 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $57,319 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| An average net price of $2,681 for families earning under $30,000 accompanies median earnings of $57,319 for Natural Resources Conservation graduates of California State University-San Bernardino four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $57,319 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| University of Redlands shows median earnings of $57,319 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $25,943 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 30 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $55,903 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
| California State University-San Marcos ranks 59th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $10,229. | |||||
| 31 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $55,805 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
| Oregon State University reports median earnings of $55,805 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 121 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 32 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $55,528 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
| University of Nevada-Reno admits 74% of applicants and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earn a median of $55,528 four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $55,240 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
| An average net price of $8,717 for families earning under $30,000 accompanies median earnings of $55,240 for Natural Resources Conservation graduates of University of California-Santa Cruz four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $54,975 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
| University of Portland reports median earnings of $54,975 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $22,375 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 35 | Willamette University · Salem, OR | $54,657 | $25,121 | $16,182 | 77.1% |
| Willamette University ranks 1311th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 77%. | |||||
| 36 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $53,781 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
| Western Washington University reports median earnings of $53,781 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 209 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 37 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $53,369 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
| University of San Francisco reports median earnings of $53,369 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 36 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 38 | Westminster University · Salt Lake City, UT | $53,132 | $27,094 | $22,972 | 66.6% |
| Westminster University admits 67% of applicants and shows an average net price of $27,094. | |||||
| 39 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $51,871 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
| University of Arizona ranks 75th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median federal debt of $21,500 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 40 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $51,598 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
| California State University-Monterey Bay posts median earnings of $51,598 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,970 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 41 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $51,552 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
| University of Wyoming ranks 41st on this list and reports median federal debt of $16,624 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 42 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $50,915 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt admits 98% of applicants and reports median earnings of $50,915 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 43 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $50,697 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
| Boise State University ranks 420th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $21,610. | |||||
| 44 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $50,330 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins reports median federal debt of $14,000 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, with 11 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 45 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $49,770 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
| University of Oregon posts median earnings of $49,770 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing and admits 88% of applicants. | |||||
| 46 | Western Colorado University · Gunnison, CO | $49,170 | $16,425 | $11,490 | 99.7% |
| Western Colorado University ranks 46th on this list and reports an average net price of $11,490 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 47 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $48,646 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
| Montana State University reports median federal debt of $27,752 among Natural Resources Conservation completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $48,646 four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $48,321 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
| Northern Arizona University ranks 127th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $14,158. | |||||
| 49 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $48,041 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
| San Jose State University reports median earnings of $48,041 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 70 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | University of Hawaii at Hilo · Hilo, HI | $47,534 | $11,856 | $8,983 | 60.6% |
| University of Hawaii at Hilo admits 61% of applicants and carries an average net price of $11,856. | |||||
| 51 | Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR | $47,202 | $35,273 | $23,318 | 89.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Pacific University left with a median of $23,223 in federal loans, and the school's Natural Resources Conservation graduates earned a median of $47,202 four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $46,492 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
| Fort Lewis College ranks 52nd on this list and posts an average net price of $18,622 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 53 | University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA | $46,112 | $38,394 | $23,643 | 72.3% |
| University of Puget Sound, a private nonprofit university in Tacoma, reports median earnings of $46,112 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | Southern Oregon University · Ashland, OR | $44,945 | $16,732 | $11,830 | 88.6% |
| Southern Oregon University ranks 957th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an 89% admission rate. | |||||
| 55 | The University of Montana · Missoula, MT | $43,813 | $16,784 | $13,960 | 95.9% |
| The University of Montana reports median earnings of $43,813 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 71. | |||||
| 56 | University of Denver · Denver, CO | $41,565 | $36,131 | $20,097 | 77.8% |
| University of Denver carries an average net price of $36,131 and its Natural Resources Conservation graduates earned a median of $41,565 four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | Colorado College · Colorado Springs, CO | $37,393 | $33,375 | $9,217 | 18.5% |
| Colorado College admits 18% of applicants, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $18,257 in federal loans. | |||||
| 58 | The University of Montana-Western · Dillon, MT | $36,221 | $16,558 | $14,822 | 99.8% |
| The University of Montana-Western ranks 1200th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $16,558. | |||||
| 59 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | $34,847 | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
| Washington State University reports median earnings of $34,847 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $7,074 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 60 | University of Alaska Anchorage · Anchorage, AK | $29,685 | $15,301 | $11,582 | Not reported |
| University of Alaska Anchorage ranks 60th on this list and reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 61 | Hawaii Pacific University · Honolulu, HI | $29,685 | $29,657 | $25,758 | 85.9% |
| Hawaii Pacific University, a private nonprofit university in Honolulu, reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, with 15 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 62 | Lewis & Clark College · Portland, OR | $26,353 | $36,013 | $15,962 | 78.5% |
| Lewis & Clark College admits 78% of applicants and posts an average net price of $36,013. | |||||
| 63 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $25,194 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
| University of Utah ranks 102nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $16,200. | |||||
| 64 | Whittier College · Whittier, CA | $25,194 | $25,757 | $21,718 | 80.8% |
| Whittier College reports median earnings of $25,194 for its Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 6 graduates. | |||||
| 65 | The College of Idaho · Caldwell, ID | $25,194 | $19,481 | $14,026 | 49.1% |
| The College of Idaho shows an average net price of $14,026 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 49%. | |||||
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 West appear. The earnings figures cover federally aided completers of Natural Resources Conservation programs who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 10 of the 65 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 gap between University of Southern California and University of California-Berkeley is $107, with the top program reporting $78,731 and the bottom $25,194, a spread of $53,537.
Job market context in the West
Graduates of Natural Resources Conservation programs in the West enter a labor market that includes 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 $88,322, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $68,150. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 8.5% higher, with about 242 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. These market figures describe the occupations linked to the field, not the earnings of any particular program. The ranking above uses the median earnings of Natural Resources Conservation graduates four years after completing reported by each school.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the West
- Natural Resources Colleges in the West