by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 650 degrees and certificates in Wildlife Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Wildlife Biology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing, rising to $49,957 after four years.
A degree in Wildlife Biology covers Wildlife Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biological Principles To The Study Of Vertebrate Wildlife, Wildlife Habitats, And Related Ecosystems In Remote And Urban Areas. Includes Instruction In Animal Ecology; Adaptational Biology; Urban Ecosystems; Natural And Artificial Habitat Management; Limnology; Wildlife Pathology; And Vertebrate Zoological Specializations Such As Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Ornithology, And Others. Examples: [Wildlife And Conservation Biology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, wildlife biology draws strong interest, with 650 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award wildlife biology degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 178.
By level, the 650 awards include 16 associate degrees, 580 bachelor’s degrees, 45 master’s degrees and 9 doctorates.
Women earned 64% of wildlife biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (415 of 650). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (520) and Hispanic or Latino (62), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Wildlife Biology Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 16 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks wildlife biology schools within 11 states. In all, 26 colleges offer wildlife biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Wildlife Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common wildlife biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 580 of the 650 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to wildlife biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Inductive Reasoning and Oral Expression.
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How long a wildlife biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 580 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 45 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to wildlife biology, at 52.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.6% |
| Master’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Wildlife Biology, with an average median salary of $77,857; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Specialist, Aquatics Technician, Seed Analyst and Feed Research Aide.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to wildlife biology, at 224,048.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
Wildlife Biology graduates earn a median $29,186 one year after completing their program, $49,957 after four years and $51,678 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,186 |
| 4 years | $49,957 |
| 5 years | $51,678 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to wildlife biology, with a median salary of $100,160.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
Wildlife Biology has 5 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 2,797 degrees a year; the largest are Zoology/Animal Biology (1,750), Entomology (476) and Animal Behavior and Ethology (308). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 1,750 |
| Entomology | 476 |
| Animal Behavior and Ethology | 308 |
| Animal Physiology | 238 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology, Other | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
