Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 34 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management pays
Career outlook for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates
The job market for the occupations Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation scientists | 28,500 | +3.4% | $67,950 | Bachelor's degree |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists | 18,200 | +1.6% | $72,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary | 1,600 | +4.0% | $100,830 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management vs similar majors
How Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management stacks up against the closest fields in Natural Resources & Conservation on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Natural Resources & Conservation · this major | Forestry | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 23 F | 50 C | 44 D | 41 D |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $44,935 | $60,834 | $60,061 | $58,196 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $29,917 | $44,838 | $42,493 | $37,220 |
| ROI vs cost | -101% | +100% | +85% | +64% |
| Typical debt | $21,670 | $19,678 | $26,146 | $22,962 |
| Colleges offering it | 34 | 36 | 44 | 270 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX | Associate's | $58,015 | $26,500 | +241% | Strong return |
| 2 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | Certificate | $65,119 | — | +164% | Strong return |
| 3 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM | Associate's | $48,906 | $16,449 | +64% | Break-even |
| 4 | Valley City State University Valley City, ND | Associate's | $50,283 | $24,250 | +62% | Break-even |
| 5 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ | Certificate | $48,382 | $20,368 | +57% | Break-even |
| 6 | Auburn University Auburn, AL | Associate's | $52,409 | $21,750 | +31% | Break-even |
| 7 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | Associate's | $50,619 | $21,625 | +31% | Break-even |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Associate's | $50,817 | $25,000 | +24% | Break-even |
| 9 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR | Associate's | $48,923 | $16,000 | +24% | Break-even |
| 10 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX | Associate's | $48,333 | — | -20% | Poor return |
| 11 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD | Associate's | $47,857 | $20,250 | -39% | Poor return |
| 12 | University of Idaho Moscow, ID | Associate's | $46,473 | $25,000 | -62% | Poor return |
| 13 | University of Delaware Newark, DE | Associate's | $46,434 | $25,130 | -68% | Poor return |
| 14 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN | Associate's | $46,021 | $11,000 | -69% | Poor return |
| 15 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | Associate's | $45,964 | $19,746 | -75% | Poor return |
| 16 | Washington State University Pullman, WA | Associate's | $45,543 | — | -82% | Poor return |
| 17 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | Associate's | $45,136 | $21,390 | -98% | Poor return |
| 18 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Associate's | $44,778 | $28,332 | -105% | Poor return |
| 19 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY | Associate's | $44,672 | $17,151 | -112% | Poor return |
| 20 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $43,583 | $22,000 | -140% | Poor return |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI | Associate's | $43,392 | $24,000 | -143% | Poor return |
| 22 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | Associate's | $42,217 | $27,000 | -148% | Poor return |
| 23 | University of Maine Orono, ME | Associate's | $41,873 | $26,841 | -170% | Poor return |
| 24 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA | Associate's | $40,196 | $25,750 | -173% | Poor return |
| 25 | The University of Montana Missoula, MT | Associate's | $40,484 | $21,500 | -209% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.