2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in California
[Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/wildlife-fish-and-wildlands-science-and-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management students.
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Featured Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management Schools
Leading the list is Humboldt State University, our #1 best value for wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management in California. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, with out-of-state students paying around $20,997. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management program here. Early-career wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management graduates make about $26,325. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Wildlife, Fish & Wildl&s Science & Management graduates carry a median of $15,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, wildlife, fish & wildl&s science & management degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $29,896. Set against $15,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
