Education
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $101,420
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsNatural Resources and Conservation
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
CIP03.06
59 colleges offer Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 59
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $45,348
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,000
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 15
- Associate's
- 26
- Bachelor's
- 59
- Master's
- 24
- Doctoral
- 16
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 4
What it covers
About Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
A program that prepares individuals to conserve and manage wilderness areas and the flora, marine and aquatic life therein, and manage wildlife reservations and zoological/aquarium facilities for recreational, commercial, and ecological purposes. Includes instruction in wildlife biology, marine/aquatic biology, environmental science, freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, natural resources management and policy, outdoor recreation and parks management, the design and operation of natural and artificial wildlife habitats, applicable law and regulations, and related administrative and communications skills.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 03.06.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 15 | $44,8204 yrs after · 2 colleges | $21,3291 college |
| Associate's | 26 | $37,1394 yrs after · 3 colleges | $11,0003 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 59 | $45,3484 yrs after · 37 colleges | $20,00036 colleges |
| Master's | 24 | $54,0561 yr after · 2 colleges | $27,0332 colleges |
| Doctoral | 16 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 4 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Valley City, ND · Public · 21 graduates
$69,799
debt $15,281
- 2
Auburn, AL · Public · 37 graduates
$54,449
debt $25,000
- 3
Brookings, SD · Public · 20 graduates
$50,623
debt $20,500
- 4
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Paul Smiths, NY · Private nonprofit · 19 graduates
$50,171
debt $24,188
- 5
East Lansing, MI · Public · 59 graduates
$49,948
debt $20,820
- 6
Bemidji, MN · Public · 25 graduates
$49,040
debt $19,500
- 7
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · 55 graduates
$48,882
debt $24,458
- 8
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · 71 graduates
$47,496
debt $18,125
- 9
Durham, NH · Public · 35 graduates
$47,370
debt $27,000
- 10
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO · Public · 21 graduates
$47,356
debt $17,500
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Science
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- Median pay
- $76,780
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Science
Conservation Scientists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Science
Park Naturalists
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Science
Range Managers
- Median pay
- $73,010
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
More in Natural Resources and Conservation
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
How many colleges offer Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at these degree levels: certificate (15 colleges), associate's (26 colleges), bachelor's (59 colleges), master's (24 colleges), doctoral (16 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (4 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management earn $45,348 a year four years after finishing, across 37 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn the most?
Valley City State University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: $69,799 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.