Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn a median $45,338 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management ranks #186 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 8% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen F Austin State University | TX | $56,437 |
| 2 | Auburn University | AL | $54,449 |
| 3 | South Dakota State University | SD | $50,623 |
| 4 | Michigan State University | MI | $49,948 |
| 5 | Bemidji State University | MN | $49,040 |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $48,882 |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $47,496 |
| 8 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | NH | $47,370 |
| 9 | Northwest Missouri State University | MO | $47,356 |
| 10 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | CA | $47,003 |
| 11 | Missouri Western State University | MO | $46,342 |
| 12 | University of California-Davis | CA | $46,209 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.