2026 Best Wildlife Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Wildlife Management degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their wildlife management programs.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best wildlife management schools.
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Best Schools for Wildlife Management in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall wildlife management education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Wildlife Management
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in wildlife management. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
Read more about the wildlife management program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Hocking College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in wildlife management, ranking #2. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. About 47 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Hocking College in the most recent year. Wildlife Management graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $26,914 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
Read more about the wildlife management program at Hocking College
Michigan State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in wildlife management, ranking #3. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 80 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $27,762. Typical student debt for the program is $28,425.
See the full wildlife management program report for Michigan State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the top schools for wildlife management. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Students who receive their wildlife management degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $27,273 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,556.
More information about a degree in wildlife management from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
A rank of #5 makes Michigan Technological University one of the top schools for wildlife management. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 wildlife management degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, wildlife management degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
Read more about the wildlife management program at Michigan Technological University
Otterbein University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best wildlife management schools. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 wildlife management students who graduated with this degree at Otterbein University in the most recent data year. Wildlife Management graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $19,801 early in their careers. Otterbein University graduates carry a median of $25,850 in student loans.
More information about a degree in wildlife management from Otterbein University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 schools evaluated.
- 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.
