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2026 Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Degree Guide

Studying Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management involves the study of Wildlife, Fish And Wildlands Science And Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Conserve And Manage Wilderness Areas And The Flora, Marine And Aquatic Life Therein, And Manage Wildlife Reservations And Zoological/aquarium Facilities For Recreational, Commercial, And Ecological Purposes. Includes Instruction In Wildlife Biology, Marine/aquatic Biology, Environmental Science, Freshwater And Saltwater Ecosystems, Natural Resources Management And Policy, Outdoor Recreation And Parks Management, The Design And Operation Of Natural And Artificial Wildlife Habitats, Applicable Law And Regulations, And Related Administrative And Communications Skills. Continue reading for the key facts every wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management programs.

Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Degrees in the United States

In the U.S., wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management is a widely-pursued major, with 2,419 degrees awarded annually.

Our 2026 Best Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools ranking analyzes these 83 schools to determine the best overall colleges for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management programs later in this article.

Best Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools by Degree

Requirements for Getting a Degree in Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management

Studies in Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates commonly enter.

Skills You Will Develop

Skills developed in a wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Degree Types

There are several wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.

Degree	Typical Program Length	Graduates Annually
Certificate	Varies	14
Associate Degree	2 years	265
Bachelor’s Degree	4 years	1,714
Master’s Degree	1-3 years	387
Doctorate	At least 4 years	39

People currently working in careers related to wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management tend to have obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	36.7%
Doctoral degree	29.6%
Master’s degree	17.4%
Post-doctoral training	10.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.7%
Postsecondary certificate	0.8%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.4%
Some college courses	0.1%

View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management careers hold.

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Careers

A degree in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management.

In-Demand Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Careers

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management.

Occupation	Projected Jobs	Expected Growth
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary	497,622	4.3%
Conservation Scientists	208,826	13.4%
Range Managers	175,572	1.3%
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	159,217	-1.2%
Park Naturalists	46,677	9.4%

How Much Money Do Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Grads Make?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$29,560
4 years	$38,597
5 years	$44,355

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Highest Paid Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Careers

Salaries for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management grads often go into.

Occupation	Median Annual Salary
Conservation Scientists	$81,436
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$79,966
Park Naturalists	$76,516
Range Managers	$59,935
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	$55,554

Getting Your Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Degree

With 83 different wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management school rankings to help you.

References

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.