2026 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the Southeast Region
[Wildlife Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value wildlife management schools.
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2026 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in wildlife management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Wildlife Management Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for wildlife management in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $20,872 to complete the wildlife management program here. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $23,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Haywood Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,580, while out-of-state students pay about $8,724. Wildlife Management graduates of Haywood Community College earn a median of $35,767 early in their careers.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife management will find it at American Public University System, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Murray State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $21,500. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $28,751. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arkansas Tech University earned it the #5 place for wildlife management. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the wildlife management program here. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $28,652. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
West Virginia University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the wildlife management program here. Wildlife Management graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $29,470 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Georgia ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $25,154. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $22,354. Set against $25,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Florida Keys Community College earned the #8 position for value in wildlife 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, while out-of-state students pay about $13,162. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $13,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Florida Keys Community College generally make around $47,373. That is a strong return on a $13,236 median debt.
Tennessee Technological University earned the #9 position for value in wildlife management this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $13,673 to complete the wildlife management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $29,936. Set against $13,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Mississippi State University placed #10 among the best values for wildlife management. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $25,750. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $30,247. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #11 position for value in wildlife management this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $30,924. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Clemson University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete the wildlife management program here. Wildlife Management graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $47,819 early in their careers. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #13 position for value in wildlife 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, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the wildlife management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $25,563. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Auburn University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $25,740 to complete the wildlife management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $28,748. Set against $25,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
