2027 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the Southeast Region

[Wildlife Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong wildlife management education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for wildlife management students.
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2027 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the wildlife management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Wildlife Management Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in wildlife management in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $20,872. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $23,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife management will find it at Murray State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Wildlife Management graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $28,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #3 place for wildlife management. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the wildlife management program here. Wildlife Management graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,438 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife management will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $19,224. Wildlife Management graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $25,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,224 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $23,399 to complete the wildlife management program here. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $48,847. That is a strong return on a $23,399 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Keys Community College landed the #6 spot for wildlife management value this year. Florida Keys Community College is a small public school located in the town of Key West. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,276, with out-of-state students paying around $13,162. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete the wildlife management program here. Wildlife Management graduates of Florida Keys Community College earn a median of $47,373 early in their careers. Set against $13,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas Tech University landed the #7 spot for wildlife management value this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the wildlife management program here. Wildlife Management graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $28,652 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Georgia ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $25,154 to complete the wildlife management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $22,354. Set against $25,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #9 for value in wildlife management this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $13,673. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $29,936. That is a strong return on a $13,673 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
West Virginia University landed the #10 spot for wildlife management value this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $29,470. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
Mississippi State University placed #11 among the best values for wildlife management. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. 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. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the wildlife management program here. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $30,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Clemson University placed #13 among the best values for wildlife management. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete the wildlife management program here. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $47,819. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value wildlife management schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $25,740 in student loans. Early-career wildlife management graduates make about $28,748. That is a strong return on a $25,740 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #15 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. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $25,563. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.