by our College Data Analytics Team
[Wildlife Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a wildlife management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying wildlife management schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose wildlife management graduates go on to earn the most.
Tarleton State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools in the United States. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Tarleton State University make a median of around $48,333 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Valley City State University one of the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Valley City State University typically earn about $50,283 annually.
A rank of #3 makes South Dakota State University one of the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,857.
Strong graduate earnings at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #4 place for wildlife management. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Brigham Young University Idaho make a median of around $39,896 per year.
New Mexico State University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in wildlife management, landing the #5 spot this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Early-career wildlife management graduates from New Mexico State University Main Campus make a median of around $48,906 per year.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #6 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee typically earn about $50,817 annually.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #7 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,041.
Mississippi State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Mississippi State University is a public school located in the town of Mississippi State. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,619.
Auburn University earned the #9 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Auburn University typically earn about $52,409 annually.
University Of Idaho came in at #10 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from University Of Idaho make a median of around $46,473 per year.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #11 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Arkansas Tech University is a public school located in the town of Russellville. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University typically earn about $48,923 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $36,657 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee Technological University landed the #13 spot for wildlife management salaries this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University typically earn about $46,021 annually.
West Virginia University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from West Virginia University make a median of around $45,964 per year.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science came in at #15 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science make a median of around $35,979 per year.
Bemidji State University earned the #16 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Bemidji State University is a public school located in the town of Bemidji. Wildlife Management graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of about $35,806 a year early in their careers.
Michigan State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $44,778 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point make a median of around $43,392 per year.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Durham. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,217.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $45,136 annually.
University Of Nevada Reno ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno typically earn about $33,351 annually.
University Of Maine came in at #22 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of about $41,873 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Montana landed the #23 spot for wildlife management salaries this year. The University Of Montana is a public school located in the city of Missoula. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,484.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #24 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school located in the town of Richmond. Wildlife Management graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of about $44,672 a year early in their careers.
Delaware Valley College landed the #25 spot for wildlife management salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Delaware Valley College make a median of around $40,196 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid wildlife management ranking:
Explore the highest-paying wildlife management schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their wildlife management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 37 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.