by our College Data Analytics Team
[Wildlife Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a wildlife management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their wildlife management graduates.
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Below are the schools whose wildlife management graduates go on to earn the most.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #1 spot for highest-paid wildlife management graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,657.
Michigan State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $44,778 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point typically earn about $43,392 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Otterbein University one of the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Otterbein University make a median of around $19,801 per year.
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 · 4 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.