Best colleges for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
George Mason University, University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the top bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. George Mason University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,038, College Scorecard. University of Virginia, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Virginia: 106, 73 and 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Virginia colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research and award 445 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 7 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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,038 | 73 | 68% | — | $23,021 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,790 | 106 | 96% | — | $13,952 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,361 | 51 | 86% | — | $26,408 |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,038 | 59 | 63% | — | $23,500 |
| 5 | Roanoke College Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,588 | 18 | 67% | $24,604 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,391 | 12 | 61% | — | — |
| 7 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,838 | 7 | 53% | $19,485 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Virginia
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 Virginia Charlottesville Public | 106 | $41,790 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 73 | $43,038 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 59 | $32,038 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 51 | $39,361 |
| 5 | Roanoke College Salem Private not-for-profit | 18 | $39,588 |
| 6 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | Emory & Henry University Emory Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 12 | $39,391 |
| 9 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 15 Virginia colleges offering Natural Resources Conservation and Research
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Patrick Henry College | Purcellville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | 2 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Conservation Scientists (SOC 19-1031).
Top skills
What Conservation Scientists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees?+
University of Virginia (106 graduates a year), George Mason University (73 graduates a year) and Virginia Commonwealth University (59 graduates a year) award the most Natural Resources Conservation and Research degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Virginia colleges offer Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
What is the best college for Natural Resources Conservation and Research in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, George Mason University leads among bachelor's Natural Resources Conservation and Research programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,038, College Scorecard. University of Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Virginia is the largest, with 106 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Natural Resources Conservation and Research program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, George Mason University tops the list at $43,038. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Conservation Scientists earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Conservation Scientists in Virginia is $92,610 (median $77,380), across about 480 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