[Wildlife Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/wildlife-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for wildlife biology students.
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Finding the Best Value Wildlife Biology School for You
The wildlife biology program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Wildlife Biology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Wildlife Biology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in wildlife biology, no school beat Davidson County Community College this year. Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Thomasville. Students from in state pay about $1,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,588 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $16,693. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $23,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wyoming earned it the #2 place for wildlife biology. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete the wildlife biology program here. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $29,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife biology will find it at Frostburg State University, which ranked #3. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Wildlife Biology graduates of Frostburg State University earn a median of $29,851 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife biology will find it at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #4. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $12,184. Soon after graduation, wildlife biology degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $24,457. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in wildlife biology, landing the #5 spot this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $26,378. Soon after graduation, wildlife biology degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $50,179. Set against $26,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #6 among the best values for wildlife biology. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Wildlife Biology graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $22,264 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Kansas State University landed the #7 spot for wildlife biology value this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $24,853. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $26,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife biology schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the wildlife biology program here. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $35,130. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife biology schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,303, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263. Median earnings reach $55,763 ten years out. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota placed #10 among the best values for wildlife biology. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $25,110. Wildlife Biology graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $24,721 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
Oregon State University earned the #11 position for value in wildlife biology this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Wildlife Biology graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $27,491 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #12 spot for wildlife biology value this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $25,000. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $27,741. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for wildlife biology value this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $25,210. Soon after graduation, wildlife biology degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $29,303. Set against $25,210 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University earned the #14 position for value in wildlife biology this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,101, with out-of-state students paying around $10,996. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $21,406 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife biology degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. That is a strong return on a $21,406 median debt. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Vermont ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife biology schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the wildlife biology program here. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $22,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Friends University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife biology schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,192. Typical student debt for wildlife biology graduates is $19,500. Wildlife Biology graduates of Friends University earn a median of $24,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Lees Mcrae College landed the #17 spot for wildlife biology value this year. Set in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,850. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $24,120 in student loans. Early-career wildlife biology graduates make about $24,921. Set against $24,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lees Mcrae College admits about 77% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #18 position for value in wildlife biology this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Wildlife Biology graduates carry a median of $24,393 in student loans. Wildlife Biology graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $23,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Wildlife Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/zoology/wildlife-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
