Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs
CIP 0306 · Natural Resources & Conservation · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
44 institutions report graduate earnings for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $45,166 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47× and 68% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 4 of the 44 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley City State UniversityND · Bachelor's | $69,799 n=17 | – | $24,250 | 0.35× | Above +70% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $56,437 n=25 | 100% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.47× | Above +58% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | Auburn UniversityAL · Bachelor's | $54,449 n=25 | 88% 5yr | $21,750 | 0.40× | Above +58% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | South Dakota State UniversitySD · Bachelor's | $50,623 n=54 | 89% 5yr | $20,250 | 0.40× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceNY · Bachelor's | $50,171 n=61 | 62% 1yr | $24,218 | 0.48× | Above +32% | – |
| 6 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $49,948 n=77 | 56% | $28,332 | 0.57× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Bemidji State UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $49,040 n=39 | 62% 1yr | $18,750 | 0.38× | Above +23% | – |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTN · Bachelor's | $48,882 n=42 | 82% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.51× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $47,496 n=54 | 78% 5yr | $21,390 | 0.45× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's | $47,370 n=40 | 84% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.57× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 11 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $47,356 n=23 | 86% 5yr | $24,875 | 0.53× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA · Bachelor's | $47,003 n=123 | 45% | $21,889 | 0.47× | Above +22% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | Front Range Community CollegeCO · UG cert | $46,418 n=35 | 73% 1yr | $14,900 | 0.32× | Above +12% | – |
| 14 | Missouri Western State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $46,342 n=18 | – | $19,500 | 0.42× | Above +30% | – |
| 15 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $46,209 n=67 | 49% 1yr | $15,000 | 0.33× | Above +20% | – |
| 16 | University of Nevada-RenoNV · Bachelor's | $46,171 n=43 | 57% 1yr | $16,270 | 0.35× | Above +23% | Below 1/2 |
| 17 | University of Rhode IslandRI · Bachelor's | $45,571 n=52 | 40% 1yr | $23,817 | 0.52× | Above +9% | Below 1/2 |
| 18 | University of MaineME · Bachelor's | $45,502 n=40 | 44% 1yr | $26,841 | 0.59× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Mississippi State UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $45,445 n=38 | 90% 5yr | $21,625 | 0.48× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | Tennessee Technological UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $45,348 n=55 | 88% 5yr | $11,000 | 0.24× | Above +30% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | West Virginia UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $45,348 n=88 | 40% | $19,746 | 0.43× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $45,212 n=28 | 72% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.51× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 23 | Utah State UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $45,120 n=58 | 47% 1yr | $19,133 | 0.42× | Above +13% | – |
| 24 | Arkansas Tech UniversityAR · Bachelor's | $44,868 n=33 | 86% 5yr | $16,000 | 0.36× | Above +32% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | University of GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's | $44,818 n=32 | 100% | $22,000 | 0.49× | Above +27% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusNM · Bachelor's | $44,272 n=19 | 68% 5yr | $16,449 | 0.37× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Murray State UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $43,844 n=23 | – | $21,417 | 0.49× | Above +26% | – |
| 28 | The University of MontanaMT · Bachelor's | $43,286 n=61 | 57% | $21,500 | 0.50× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Northern Arizona UniversityAZ · UG cert | $43,223 n=34 | 76% 5yr | $20,368 | 0.47× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of IdahoID · Bachelor's | $43,171 n=32 | 74% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.58× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldMO · Bachelor's | $42,618 n=36 | 43% 1yr | $20,750 | 0.49× | Above +19% | – |
| 32 | University of DelawareDE · Bachelor's | $42,567 n=46 | 31% 1yr | $25,130 | 0.59× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWI · Bachelor's | $42,330 n=88 | 47% | $24,000 | 0.57× | Above +9% | Below 1/2 |
| 34 | Otterbein UniversityOH · Bachelor's | $41,121 n=32 | – | $25,850 | 0.63× | Above +12% | – |
| 35 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $40,434 n=54 | 46% | $16,500 | 0.41× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $40,149 n=18 | 75% 5yr | $17,151 | 0.43× | Above +16% | Clears 2/2 |
| 37 | Unity Environmental UniversityME · Bachelor's | $39,017 n=59 | 51% | $27,000 | 0.69× | Above +7% | Below 1/2 |
| 38 | Delaware Valley UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $38,899 n=59 | 58% | $25,750 | 0.66× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 39 | Michigan Technological UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $38,775 n=18 | – | $23,000 | 0.59× | Above +11% | – |
| 40 | Hocking CollegeOH · Associate | $38,541 n=35 | 94% | $11,000 | 0.28× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 41 | Garrett CollegeMD · Associate | $37,139 n=18 | – | – | – | Below -12% | – |
| 42 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Associate | $37,069 n=23 | – | $12,000 | 0.32× | Below -2% | – |
| 43 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBoisPA · Associate | $37,069 n=23 | – | $12,000 | 0.32× | Below -2% | – |
| 44 | Zane State CollegeOH · Associate | $27,386 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -26% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $46,342 | 3 |
| Ohio | $38,541 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,069 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs in this dataset are Valley City State University ($69,799), Stephen F Austin State University ($56,437), Auburn University ($54,449). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 4 of the 44 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.