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2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in Montana

[Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/wildlife-fish-and-wildlands-science-and-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in Montana

2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in Montana

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools

1

The University Of Montana
Missoula, MT

$8,552 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,000 Avg Student Debt

$44,511 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management, no school beat The University Of Montana this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $28,339. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

2

Montana State University
Bozeman, MT

$8,460 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,635 Avg Student Debt

$53,263 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Montana State University one of the best values for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates is $23,635. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.

View All Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 4 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.