2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in the Southeast Region
[Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/wildlife-fish-and-wildlands-science-and-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $20,872 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Early-career wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates make about $23,715. Set against $20,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management will find it at Haywood Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,580 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,724. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $35,767 early in their careers.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management will find it at American Public University System, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Set against $23,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Murray State University one of the best values for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates make about $28,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas Tech University earned it the #5 place for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $28,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
West Virginia University came in at #6 for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $29,470 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Georgia earned the #7 position for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates is $25,154. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $22,354 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,154 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Florida Keys Community College came in at #8 for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Florida Keys Community College is a small public school located in the town of Key West. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,276, with out-of-state students paying around $13,162. Typical student debt for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates is $13,236. Early-career wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates make about $47,373. That is a strong return on a $13,236 median debt.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $13,673 in student loans. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $29,936 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,673 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
Mississippi State University earned the #10 position for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $30,247 early in their careers. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #11 for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Early-career wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates make about $30,924. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Clemson University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management schools. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Typical student debt for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates is $23,783. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $47,819. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #13 position for value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $25,563. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $25,740 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $28,748. Set against $25,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
