2026 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the The Plains States 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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for wildlife management students.
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2026 Best Value Wildlife Management Schools in the The Plains States 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
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value wildlife management schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $17,029. Wildlife Management graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $44,387 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Valley City State University one of the best values for wildlife management. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Valley City State University generally make around $44,253. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Missouri State University earned it the #3 place for wildlife management. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $23,585. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $36,758. That is a strong return on a $23,585 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bemidji State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in wildlife management, landing the #4 spot this year. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $22,301. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $35,806. That is a strong return on a $22,301 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri State University Springfield earned it the #5 place for wildlife management. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for wildlife management graduates is $23,937. Wildlife Management graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $26,549 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best values for wildlife management. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Wildlife Management graduates carry a median of $24,798 in student loans. Wildlife Management graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $39,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,798 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
