Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley State University are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Michigan State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,170, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Grand Valley State University and Michigan State University award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Michigan: 353, 88 and 79 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Michigan colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 870 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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,170 | 79 | 81% | — | $23,750 |
| 2 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,656 | 27 | 46% | — | $27,500 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,118 | 88 | 67% | — | $24,158 |
| 4 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,201 | 24 | 58% | — | $25,171 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,264 | 353 | 93% | — | $16,577 |
| 6 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,430 | 41 | 59% | — | $29,000 |
| 7 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,266 | 68 | 52% | — | $24,250 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,919 | 10 | 58% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Michigan
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 Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 353 | $29,264 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 88 | $32,118 |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 79 | $37,170 |
| 4 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 68 | $26,266 |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 41 | $28,430 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 27 | $35,656 |
| 8 | Michigan Technological University Houghton Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 24 | $31,201 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public | 23 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 20 Michigan colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | Public | 18 |
| Albion College | Albion | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 14 |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | Public | 10 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center | Public | 7 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 6 |
| Alma College | Alma | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| The University of Olivet | Olivet | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena | Public | 3 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 3 |
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College | LAnse | Public | 3 |
| Jackson College | Jackson | Public | 2 |
| Bay de Noc Community College | Escanaba | Public | 1 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).
Top skills
What Conservation Scientists earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (353 graduates a year), Grand Valley State University (88 graduates a year) and Michigan State University (79 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Michigan colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Michigan State University leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,170, College Scorecard. Eastern Michigan University and Grand Valley State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the largest, with 353 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Michigan State University tops the list at $37,170. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Conservation Scientists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in Michigan is $74,140 (median $63,500), across about 820 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card