Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this program develop the expertise needed to protect and steward natural ecosystems, focusing on the sustainable management of wildlands, wildlife populations, and aquatic environments. The curriculum integrates scientific inquiry with practical application, preparing graduates to address complex environmental challenges across diverse landscapes and habitats.
- Wildlife Biology: Examines the behavior, physiology, and population dynamics of terrestrial and aquatic species to support conservation planning and species recovery efforts.
- Marine and Aquatic Biology: Explores the structure, function, and conservation of oceanic and freshwater ecosystems, emphasizing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- Environmental Science: Applies interdisciplinary principles to analyze environmental systems, assess human impacts, and develop science-based solutions for ecosystem protection.
- Freshwater and Saltwater Ecosystems: Studies the ecological processes, threats, and management strategies specific to rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and marine environments.
- Natural Resources Management and Policy: Focuses on regulatory frameworks, land-use planning, and policy development to ensure sustainable use and protection of natural assets.
- Outdoor Recreation and Parks Management: Addresses the design, operation, and conservation of protected areas to balance public access with ecological integrity.
- Habitat Design and Operation: Covers the creation and maintenance of both natural and engineered environments for wildlife conservation, including facilities in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries.
- Environmental Law and Regulations: Provides foundational knowledge of federal, state, and international laws governing land use, species protection, and environmental compliance.
- Administrative and Communications Skills: Develops competencies in project management, stakeholder engagement, reporting, and public outreach essential for leadership in conservation organizations.
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management degrees, including Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists and Conservation Scientists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 43,820 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1043 | $100,830 | $58,670 - $154,630 | 1,310 | N/A |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 19-1023 | $72,860 | $48,240 - $113,350 | 16,920 | $35.03 |
| Conservation Scientists 19-1031 | $67,950 | $45,260 - $107,720 | 25,590 | $32.67 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $52,120 in Florida to $97,050 in Rhode Island—a 86% difference. The highest-paying states include Rhode Island, Michigan, and Oregon. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 43,820 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 83 institutions offering Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management is found at Oregon State University (OSU) (154 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (130 graduates), University of California (UCD), Davis (91 graduates), California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt), Humboldt (88 graduates), and Tarleton State University (TSU) (84 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,419 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
154 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
130 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
91 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
88 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
|
84 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Bachelor's
|
78 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
65 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
62 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Hocking College |
Associate's
|
47 | Nelsonville, Ohio | Public | hocking.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
45 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Delaware Valley University (DelVal) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Private | delval.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
32 | Uvalde, Texas | Public | swtjc.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Otterbein University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | otterbein.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Associate's
|
26 | DuBois, Pennsylvania | Public | dubois.psu.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Bemidji State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Bemidji, Minnesota | Public | bemidjistate.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Other Award
|
23 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology (SUNY Cobleskill) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Cobleskill, New York | Public | cobleskill.edu |
| Minnesota North College |
Associate's
|
21 | Hibbing, Minnesota | Public | minnesotanorth.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Paul Smiths, New York | Private | paulsmiths.edu |
| Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Harrisburg, Illinois | Public | sic.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
16 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Unity Environmental University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | New Gloucester, Maine | Private | unity.edu |
| Haywood Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Clyde, North Carolina | Public | haywood.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) |
Associate's
|
13 | Key West, Florida | Public | cfk.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Newport, Oregon | Public | oregoncoastcc.org |
| University of Arizona |
Other Award
|
11 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| Juniata College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | Private | juniata.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Sul Ross State University |
Master's
|
9 | Alpine, Texas | Public | sulross.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
9 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| McNeese State University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | mcneese.edu |
| Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Portales, New Mexico | Public | enmu.edu |
| Salish Kootenai College (SKC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
6 | Pablo, Montana | Public | skc.edu |
| Zane State College (ZSC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Zanesville, Ohio | Public | zanestate.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRH) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Public | upr.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
5 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Garrett College |
Associate's
|
5 | McHenry, Maryland | Public | garrettcollege.edu |
| Missouri Western State University (MWSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Saint Joseph, Missouri | Public | missouriwestern.edu |
| Holmes Community College |
Associate's
|
3 | Goodman, Mississippi | Public | holmescc.edu |
| Western New Mexico University (WNMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Silver City, New Mexico | Public | wnmu.edu |
| Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Albany, Oregon | Public | linnbenton.edu |
| Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mitchell, South Dakota | Private | dwu.edu |
| East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Scooba, Mississippi | Public | eastms.edu |
| Frostburg State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Frostburg, Maryland | Public | frostburg.edu |
| Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Ontario, Oregon | Public | tvcc.cc |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Snow College |
Associate's
|
1 | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs
How much can I earn with a Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management degree?
Salaries for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates vary by role and location. Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $100,830 annually, while Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earn around $72,860. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Rhode Island average $97,050 compared to $52,120 in Florida. Approximately 43,820 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs?
Currently 83 accredited institutions offer Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Oregon State University (OSU) (154 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (130 graduates), and University of California (UCD), Davis (91 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,472 in 2010 to 2,419 in 2023-24. This represents a 64% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, and Conservation Scientists. Related occupations employ approximately 43,820 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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