Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina Wilmington are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,976, College Scorecard. Duke University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in North Carolina: 217, 195 and 136 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 North Carolina colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 1,016 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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,976 | 136 | 91% | — | $12,044 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,948 | 195 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,935 | 104 | 71% | — | $22,309 |
| 4 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,121 | 217 | 97% | $16,260 | $11,875 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,631 | 114 | 75% | — | $23,125 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,758 | 46 | 54% | — | $22,880 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,400 | 11 | 44% | — | — |
| 8 | Catawba College Salisbury Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,389 | 19 | 47% | $17,916 | $25,794 |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in North Carolina
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 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 217 | $28,121 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 195 | $32,948 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 136 | $33,976 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 114 | $27,631 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 104 | $28,935 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 46 | $25,758 |
| 7 | Warren Wilson College Swannanoa Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 8 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 10 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 North Carolina colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 20 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 11 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 11 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Montreat College | Montreat | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Pamlico Community College | Grantsboro | Public | 3 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 1 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).
Top skills
What Conservation Scientists earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+
Duke University (217 graduates a year), North Carolina State University at Raleigh (195 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (136 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 North Carolina colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,976, College Scorecard. North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina Wilmington follow. By degrees awarded, Duke University is the largest, with 217 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tops the list at $33,976. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Conservation Scientists earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in North Carolina is $72,190 (median $64,460), across about 540 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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