Best Schools for Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates earn a median of $55,724 within four years of graduating, ranking #186 out of 283 tracked majors — 11% below the median across all fields. There are 310 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 13,751 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Boston College graduates earn $82,861 while University of Michigan-Flint graduates earn $37,015 — a $45,846 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates see an average 3% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

310

Schools

$55,724

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#186

of 283 Majors

13,751

Graduates

Public vs Private: Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Public (195 schools)

$55,463

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (115 schools)

$55,799

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $336 more in early earnings on average for Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Natural Resources Conservation and Research by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Natural Resources Conservation and Research Schools by Graduate Earnings

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$82,861

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

2yr: $33,993 (13)

1yr: $39,874 (22)

Acceptance: 15.7%

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

$77,753

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $41,937 (14)

1yr: $28,976 (25)

Acceptance: 10.1%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public

$75,258

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $52,107 (18)

1yr: $58,690 (21)

Acceptance: 75.3%

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay, MA · Public

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$73,936

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

2yr: $25,194 (20)

1yr: $39,408 (22)

Acceptance: 35.3%

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

$73,435

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

$72,889

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$72,398

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $38,785 (20)

Acceptance: 79.4%

#12

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

$71,430

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

1yr: $38,099 (23)

Acceptance: 56.3%

#13

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

$70,760

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

2yr: $44,942 (22)

Acceptance: 11.9%

#14

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$69,768

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$69,531

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ · Public

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$67,060

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $43,798 (14)

Acceptance: 25.1%

#24

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private

$66,963

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $48,041 (16)

Acceptance: 32.0%

#26

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$66,178

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY · Public

$65,863

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN · Public

$65,513

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public

Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ · Private

$65,075

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

1yr: $50,442 (17)

Acceptance: 78.9%

#33

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

$64,795

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

1yr: $36,820 (24)

Acceptance: 11.1%

#36

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI · Public

American University

Washington, DC · Private

$63,711

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

2yr: $41,992 (15)

Acceptance: 47.4%

#38

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$63,465

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

Rollins College

Winter Park, FL · Private

$63,363

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$62,791

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

2yr: $30,771 (15)

Acceptance: 79.1%

#45

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL · Private

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$62,683

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA · Private

$62,604

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva, NY · Private

$61,905

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

2yr: $34,348 (27)

Acceptance: 57.3%

#50

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public

Showing top 50 of 310 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Genetics $33,091 Theology and Religious Vocations, Other $32,973 Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services $32,861 Legal Support Services $32,696 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions $32,690 International/Global Studies $32,516

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?

Boston College ranks #1 for Natural Resources Conservation and Research with median graduate earnings of $82,861 within four years of graduating. There are 310 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates earn?

Natural Resources Conservation and Research graduates earn an average of $55,724 within four years of graduating. This is 11% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $37,015 to $82,861 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Natural Resources Conservation and Research program?

The average acceptance rate across Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs is 69.5%. The most selective program is at Yale University with a 4.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Natural Resources Conservation and Research?

Private Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs average $55,799 in early earnings vs $55,463 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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