by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a ecology evolution systematics population biology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 64 schools to find where ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Connecticut College the top school for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the city of New London, Connecticut College is a private not-for-profit institution. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of about $70,696 a year early in their careers.
Boston University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ecology evolution systematics population biology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,367.
A rank of #3 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of about $56,916 a year early in their careers.
Princeton University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ecology evolution systematics population biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,038.
Students chasing top earnings in ecology evolution systematics population biology will find them at New York University, which ranked #5. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from New York University make a median of around $70,386 per year.
Harvard University came in at #6 for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from Harvard University typically earn about $77,952 annually.
University Of Arizona landed the #7 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. University Of Arizona is a public school located in the city of Tucson. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from University Of Arizona make a median of around $47,012 per year.
College Of Charleston came in at #8 for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a public institution. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,285.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #9 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from University Of Colorado Boulder make a median of around $55,519 per year.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #10 position for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park typically earn about $55,322 annually.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a public school located in the city of Syracuse. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry earn a median of about $43,430 a year early in their careers.
Bemidji State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ecology evolution systematics population biology schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from Bemidji State University typically earn about $54,285 annually.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Set in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $52,897 annually.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ecology evolution systematics population biology schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public school located in the city of Fort Collins. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins typically earn about $52,979 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #15 for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,829.
University Of California San Diego earned the #16 position for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $55,518 per year.
University Of California Davis landed the #17 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $52,700 annually.
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for ecology evolution systematics population biology graduate earnings this year. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from Florida Institute Of Technology make a median of around $40,276 per year.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #19 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick make a median of around $39,491 per year.
Unity College landed the #20 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. Unity College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Gloucester. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of Unity College earn a median of about $39,424 a year early in their careers.
University Of New Haven landed the #21 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from University Of New Haven make a median of around $53,840 per year.
Michigan State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $53,932 annually.
University Of Connecticut landed the #23 spot for ecology evolution systematics population biology salaries this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from University Of Connecticut make a median of around $48,118 per year.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying ecology evolution systematics population biology schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,660.
Roger Williams University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Set in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from Roger Williams University typically earn about $50,911 annually.
These schools also send ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying ecology evolution systematics population biology schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 64 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
