Best Natural Resources Policy Programs in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Natural Resources Management and Policy Programs by Earnings
This page ranks the 6 Natural Resources Management and Policy programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing. Michigan State University ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $68,913 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, median earnings range from $68,913 to $44,384, with a median of $53,095. The gap between the top two programs is $15,271.
All 6 programs are at 6 public institutions. Michigan State University ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $14,559.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $68,913 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University reports $68,913 in median earnings for its Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $19,680. | |||||
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI | $53,642 | $14,559 | $8,833 | 91.8% |
| With an admission rate of 92%, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ranks 2nd on this list and shows median federal debt of $20,495 among Natural Resources Management and Policy completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $53,620 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus posts median earnings of $53,620 for its Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $18,396 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 4 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $52,570 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus ranks 4th on this list, with a cohort of 19 graduates in the earnings cohort and an average net price of $15,543. | |||||
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $52,528 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants and reports median earnings of $52,528 for its Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $44,384 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University shows median earnings of $44,384 for its Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $12,185 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figures are medians for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 6 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 spread from Michigan State University to the lowest-ranked program is $24,529, with a gap of $15,271 between Michigan State University and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in the Midwest
- Natural Resources Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility
- Natural Resources Colleges in the Midwest