Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University Chicago are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northern Illinois University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,409, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago and University of Chicago award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Illinois: 116, 103 and 43 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Illinois colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 577 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,409 | 27 | 49% | — | $26,625 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,369 | 116 | 85% | — | $21,000 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,797 | 103 | 73% | $33,454 | $24,042 |
| 4 | Knox College Galesburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,757 | 20 | 68% | $24,240 | $26,000 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,381 | 35 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,750 |
| 6 | Augustana College Rock Island Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,669 | 14 | 73% | $14,960 | $26,000 |
| 7 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,490 | 8 | 22% | — | $20,927 |
| 8 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $26,998 | 13 | 78% | $25,052 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 116 | $31,369 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 103 | $30,797 |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 35 | $26,381 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 27 | $36,409 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 10 | Knox College Galesburg Private not-for-profit | 20 | $28,757 |
ShowHide the other 20 Illinois colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 19 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Public | 12 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 8 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 3 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).
Top skills
What Conservation Scientists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (116 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (103 graduates a year) and University of Chicago (43 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Illinois colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northern Illinois University leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,409, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Loyola University Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 116 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northern Illinois University tops the list at $36,409. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Conservation Scientists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in Illinois is $75,750 (median $69,590), across about 730 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Natural Resources Conservation and Research program?+
The Natural Resources Conservation and Research program focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges and promote…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, science, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Conservation Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.4% growth with around 2,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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