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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Wildlife Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools

39 Colleges in the United States
1,623 Wildlife Management Degrees Awarded
$33,502 Avg Early-Career Salary

Wildlife Management programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 97 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for wildlife management students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Wildlife Management in the United States

These are the top schools for a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Wildlife Management

1

Leading the list is University Of California Davis, our #1 school for wildlife management. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 wildlife management degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $29,896 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete this degree. Read more about the wildlife management program at University Of California Davis

2

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in wildlife management, ranking #2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 71 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Wildlife Management graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $25,563 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full wildlife management program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

3
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in wildlife management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 37 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from Auburn University earn around $28,748 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,740. Get the full wildlife management details for Auburn University

4

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best wildlife management schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 28 wildlife management degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the wildlife management program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full wildlife management details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

5
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in wildlife management, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 84 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from University Of Florida earn around $23,715 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,872 to complete this degree. Read more about the wildlife management program at University Of Florida

6

University Of Delaware landed the #6 spot for wildlife management this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 37 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from University Of Delaware earn around $22,411 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,572 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in wildlife management from University Of Delaware

7

The University Of Tennessee landed the #7 spot for wildlife management this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Wildlife Management graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $30,924 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the wildlife management program at The University Of Tennessee

8

Oregon State University landed the #8 spot for wildlife management this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 105 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $51,000. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans. See the full wildlife management program report for Oregon State University

9

New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best wildlife management schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. About 19 wildlife management degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Wildlife Management graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $33,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,449. Get the full wildlife management details for New Mexico State University Main Campus

10

Tennessee Technological University earned the #10 position for wildlife management this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. Tennessee Technological University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent data year. Wildlife Management graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $29,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,673 to complete this degree. Get the full wildlife management details for Tennessee Technological University

11

Pennsylvania Western University came in at #11 for wildlife management this year. This large public university is located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent year. Read more about the wildlife management program at Pennsylvania Western University

12
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best wildlife management schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 59 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $27,762. Students borrow a median of $28,425 to complete this degree. Read more about the wildlife management program at Michigan State University

13

West Virginia University came in at #13 for wildlife management this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 61 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $29,470. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in wildlife management from West Virginia University

14
Mississippi State University crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University landed the #14 spot for wildlife management this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Mississippi State. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Mississippi State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $30,247. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the wildlife management program at Mississippi State University

15

Humboldt State University came in at #15 for wildlife management this year. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 88 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Humboldt State University in the most recent year. Wildlife Management graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $26,325 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. See the full wildlife management program report for Humboldt State University

16

South Dakota State University earned the #16 position for wildlife management this year. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from South Dakota State University earn around $39,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,798. Read more about the wildlife management program at South Dakota State University

17

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #17 for wildlife management this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Stevens Point. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. About 78 wildlife management degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $27,273 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,556 to complete this degree. See the full wildlife management program report for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

18

University Of Nevada Reno ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. University Of Nevada Reno awarded about 30 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $33,351. Students borrow a median of $21,150 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in wildlife management from University Of Nevada Reno

19
Tarleton State University crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX

Tarleton State University came in at #19 for wildlife management this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Tarleton State University awarded about 84 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from Tarleton State University earn around $50,532 in the first couple years of their career. Tarleton State University graduates carry a median of $23,222 in student loans. More information about a degree in wildlife management from Tarleton State University

20

Murray State University landed the #20 spot for wildlife management this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Murray State University awarded about 20 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from Murray State University earn around $28,751 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. More information about a degree in wildlife management from Murray State University

21

University Of Georgia ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best wildlife management schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the wildlife management program make about $22,354 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,154. More information about a degree in wildlife management from University Of Georgia

22

University Of Rhode Island came in at #22 for wildlife management this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent data year. Graduates of the wildlife management program make about $25,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the wildlife management program at University Of Rhode Island

23

Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #23 spot for wildlife management this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brigham Young University Idaho awarded about 16 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from Brigham Young University Idaho earn around $39,896 in the first couple years of their career. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Get the full wildlife management details for Brigham Young University Idaho

24

Valley City State University earned the #24 position for wildlife management this year. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Valley City State University in the most recent year. Wildlife Management graduates of Valley City State University earn a median of $44,253 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in wildlife management from Valley City State University

25
Arkansas Tech University crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR

Arkansas Tech University placed #25 among the best wildlife management schools. This large public university is located in the town of Russellville. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 22 wildlife management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from Arkansas Tech University earn around $28,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. See the full wildlife management program report for Arkansas Tech University

Rest of the Top 43 Wildlife Management Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong wildlife management education:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
Unity College crest
Unity College
New Gloucester, ME
39
Delaware Valley College crest
Delaware Valley College
Doylestown, PA
40
Juniata College crest
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
41
42
Otterbein University crest
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH
43

Other Wildlife Management Degree Levels

Explore the best wildlife management schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Wildlife Management
Associate's Degrees in Wildlife Management
Master's Degrees in Wildlife Management
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View All Wildlife Management Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 97 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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