Natural Resources Conservation and Research Colleges Under $20,000

Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs show dramatic cost variations, with United Tribes Technical College offering a net price of just $2,010 while most public options cluster between $3,000 and $5,000. The federal government employs over 150,000 natural resource professionals across agencies like the Forest Service and National Park Service, creating steady demand for graduates. CUNY Queens College stands out with the highest graduate earnings at $37,779 despite charging only $3,830 net. Tribal colleges dominate the lowest-cost options, with five institutions serving Native American communities at under $4,000 annually. Public universities across varied regions from New York to New Mexico provide accessible pathways into conservation careers. Graduation rates vary significantly, from Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College's 17.1% to New College of Florida's 61.8%, reflecting different institutional missions and student populations. The field offers entry points for students across economic backgrounds, with several programs costing less than many community colleges.

Programs

$2,010 – $8,837

Net Price Range

$30,146

Avg. Program Earnings

40.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Natural Resources Conservation and Research Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	United Tribes Technical College Bismarck, North Dakota	$2,010	$4,252	33.8%
2	CUNY Hunter College New York, New York	$2,446	$7,382	61.0%	47.9%
3	CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, New York	$2,943	$7,452	56.6%	54.5%
4	Haskell Indian Nations University Lawrence, Kansas	$3,031	$600	42.6%	93.3%
5	Grays Harbor College Aberdeen, Washington	$3,149	$4,751	31.6%
6	Navajo Technical University Crownpoint, New Mexico	$3,307	$4,250	19.7%
7	Sitting Bull College Fort Yates, North Dakota	$3,455	$4,010	23.9%
8	CUNY Lehman College Bronx, New York	$3,482	$7,410	49.3%	55.3%
9	CUNY City College New York, New York	$3,486	$7,340	54.7%	66.6%
10	Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College New Town, North Dakota	$3,669	$3,870	17.1%
11	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830	$7,538	60.2%	69.5%
12	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
13	New College of Florida Sarasota, Florida	$4,536	$6,916	61.8%	75.4%
14	Dalton State College Dalton, Georgia	$4,694	$3,283	29.6%
15	Northern New Mexico College Espanola, New Mexico	$5,216	$6,400	32.6%
16	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
17	Texas Southmost College Brownsville, Texas	$5,458	$3,148	26.8%
18	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, New York	$5,881	$7,352	22.3%	87.7%
19	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918	$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
20	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
21	Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon, Washington	$6,116	$5,620	33.6%
22	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
23	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, New Mexico	$6,199	$6,863	39.8%	27.6%
24	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$6,351	$6,381	91.5%	23.4%
25	Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, Oklahoma	$6,352	$7,200	33.3%	74.2%
26	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
27	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
28	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas	$6,500	$9,859	49.3%	87.7%
29	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, Puerto Rico	$6,507	$5,324	52.5%	51.6%
30	Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio	$6,602	$37,143	26.3%	83.0%
31	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, New Mexico	$6,747	$8,147	52.2%	78.1%
32	South Seattle College Seattle, Washington	$6,802	$4,865	26.2%
33	Sinte Gleska University Mission, South Dakota	$7,075	$4,714
34	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, Idaho	$7,131	$4,656	55.1%	95.6%
35	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Kentucky	$7,168	$10,896	48.3%	86.0%
36	University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, Alaska	$7,233	$6,960	31.0%	62.7%
37	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus San Juan, Puerto Rico	$7,559	$6,920	31.1%
38	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla, Puerto Rico	$7,607	$5,542	38.7%	45.7%
39	Northwest Indian College Bellingham, Washington	$7,625	$3,969	26.9%
40	Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico	$7,912	$7,868	34.9%
41	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
42	University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida	$8,155	$6,360	61.8%	48.0%
43	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Mercedita, Puerto Rico	$8,245	$5,580	43.1%	52.8%
44	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
45	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico	$8,265	$9,058	56.4%	74.4%
46	Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia	$8,327	$8,942	48.7%	96.9%
47	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
48	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$8,463	$6,270	40.7%
49	Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Bayamon, Puerto Rico	$8,783	$5,580	33.0%	33.8%
50	Millikin University Decatur, Illinois	$8,837	$26,892	59.1%	75.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Queens College graduates earn $37,779 compared to other affordable programs?

CUNY Queens College produces the highest-earning graduates at $37,779 while maintaining a net cost of just $3,830. The college benefits from proximity to major environmental consulting firms and government agencies in the New York metropolitan area. With a 60.2% graduation rate and 69.48% acceptance rate, the program balances accessibility with academic rigor. The urban location provides internship opportunities with organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society and NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

How do tribal colleges compare to traditional universities for natural resources programs?

Five tribal colleges offer natural resources programs with net costs between $2,010 and $3,669, significantly below most public universities. United Tribes Technical College charges the lowest net price at $2,010 with a 33.8% graduation rate. These institutions focus on traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices relevant to tribal sovereignty. Graduation rates range from 17.1% at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College to 42.6% at Haskell Indian Nations University, reflecting their open-access mission for underserved populations.

Is the $31,839 earning potential at CUNY Hunter College competitive for the field?

CUNY Hunter College graduates earn $31,839 annually, which represents solid entry-level compensation for conservation work. The college charges a net price of $2,446 with a 61% graduation rate and 47.86% acceptance rate. Natural resources positions often prioritize public service over high salaries, making this earning level reasonable for recent graduates. The program's location provides access to Central Park Conservancy, Hudson River Park, and numerous environmental nonprofits that hire entry-level conservation professionals.

Does New College of Florida's 61.8% graduation rate justify its $4,536 net cost?

New College of Florida achieves the highest graduation rate at 61.8% among schools charging over $4,000 annually. The $4,536 net cost remains well below the national average for public universities. With a 75.41% acceptance rate, the college maintains selective admissions while staying accessible. Florida's extensive coastline, Everglades ecosystem, and growing environmental sector create strong job prospects for graduates in marine conservation and wetland management.

Where do graduates from these affordable programs typically find employment?

Graduates commonly work for federal agencies like the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service, which employ over 150,000 natural resource professionals nationwide. State environmental departments and nonprofit conservation organizations also hire extensively from these programs. Many alumni pursue seasonal positions with organizations like AmeriCorps or Student Conservation Association before securing permanent roles. The $21,508 to $37,779 earning range reflects typical entry-level salaries in government and nonprofit conservation work.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.