by our College Data Analytics Team
[Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates go on to earn the most.
Michigan State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying ecology evolution systematics population biology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Early-career ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $53,932 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the highest-paying schools for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, ecology evolution systematics population biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $39,796 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in ecology evolution systematics population biology will find them at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $37,268 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Western Michigan University earned it the #4 place for ecology evolution systematics population biology. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Ecology Evolution Systematics Population Biology graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of about $23,846 a year early in their careers.
University Of Dayton produces some of the highest-paid graduates in ecology evolution systematics population biology, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Students who complete the ecology evolution systematics population biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,609.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries ecology evolution systematics population biology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.