Best Schools for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn a median of $27,464 within two years of graduation, ranking #254 out of 292 tracked majors — 23% below the median across all fields. There are 37 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,418 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Stephen F Austin State University graduates earn $40,017 while California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates earn $21,166 — a $18,851 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates see an average 2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

37
Schools
$27,464
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#254
of 292 Majors
1,418
Graduates

Public vs Private: Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

Public (31 schools)
$27,903
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (6 schools)
$25,197
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management by State

Top Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
S

Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public

$40,017
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,602
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 88.3%
#2
V

Valley City State University

Valley City, ND · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,083
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 69.3%
#3
M

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.9%
#4
M

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.8%
#5
S

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public

$33,423
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,041
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 98.7%
#6
T

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$32,213
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,266
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 46.0%
#7
T

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN · Public

$32,213
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,665
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 83.2%
#8
C

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 14.9%
#9
U

Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,995
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 93.6%
#10
A

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR · Public

$29,322
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,047
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 96.3%
#11
M

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public

$29,141
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,924
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 76.3%
#12
T

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.2%
#13
N

Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO · Public

$28,381
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,340
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 85.9%
#14
A

Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public

$28,366
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,293
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 50.5%
#15
W

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$28,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,380
Grads: 77
Acceptance: 86.3%
#16
N

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public

$27,890
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,369
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 75.7%
#17
U

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$27,343
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,155
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 79.1%
#18
U

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Stevens Point, WI · Public

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,124
Grads: 94
Acceptance: 90.1%
#19
B

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, ID · Private

$26,353
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,821
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 97.0%
#20
P

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science

Paul Smiths, NY · Private

$25,774
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,369
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 90.7%
#21
E

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY · Public

$25,658
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,643
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 78.1%
#22
U

University of Maine

Orono, ME · Public

$25,658
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,484
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 95.7%
#23
W

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$25,658
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 85.4%
#24
U

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#25
U

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,340
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 65.1%
#26
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,901
Grads: 87
Acceptance: 83.9%
#27
T

The University of Montana

Missoula, MT · Public

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,601
Grads: 61
Acceptance: 95.6%
#28
U

Unity Environmental University

New Gloucester, ME · Private

$24,499
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,558
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 81.8%
#29
U

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$24,035
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,682
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 86.9%
#30
U

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$23,693
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,424
Grads: 49
Acceptance: 77.1%
#31
O

Otterbein University

Westerville, OH · Private

$23,456
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,871
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 83.3%
#32
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$23,456
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,448
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 43.4%
#33
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$22,846
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,021
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 24.0%
#34
V

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$21,850
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,497
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 57.0%
#35
D

Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA · Private

$21,417
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,848
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 92.5%
#36
U

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$21,280
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,994
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 37.2%
#37
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$21,166
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,995
Grads: 128
Acceptance: 98.8%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?
Stephen F Austin State University ranks #1 for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management with median graduate earnings of $40,017 within two years. There are 37 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn?
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn an average of $27,464 within two years of graduation. This is 23% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $21,166 to $40,017 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program?
The average acceptance rate across Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs is 77.1%. The most selective program is at College of the Ozarks with a 14.9% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?
Private Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs average $25,197 in early earnings vs $27,903 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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