Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 38 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$242,670 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
707.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−99%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,348Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$45,348Median reported earnings · year 4
$45,069Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,937Median federal debt
11thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
38Reporting programs
37With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,821
- Federal debt
- $19,839
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $37,069
- Federal debt
- $12,500
- Reporting programs
- 5
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,348
- Federal debt
- $24,937
- Reporting programs
- 38
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$43,171National median$45,34875th percentile$47,370
37 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
38 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Valley City State UniversityValley City, ND · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,799Federal debt$25,500Annual net price$11,8902Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,437Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$14,2603Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · PublicYear-4 earnings$54,449Federal debt$25,740Annual net price$24,3234South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,623Federal debt$24,798Annual net price$19,8415Paul Smiths College of Arts and SciencePaul Smiths, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$50,171Federal debt$24,874Annual net price$26,6836Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$49,948Federal debt$28,425Annual net price$19,6807Bemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN · PublicYear-4 earnings$49,040Federal debt$22,301Annual net price$15,2618The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,882Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$18,9769Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,496Federal debt$21,500Annual net price$24,95310University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,370Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$23,80511Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,356Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$16,24412California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,003Federal debt$22,500Annual net price$13,17113Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,342Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,25114University of California, DavisDavis, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,209Federal debt$15,499Annual net price$14,74115University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · PublicYear-4 earnings$46,171Federal debt$21,150Annual net price$15,92716University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,571Federal debt$25,000Annual net price$21,44017University of MaineOrono, ME · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,502Federal debt$26,893Annual net price$17,51018Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,445Federal debt$25,750Annual net price$17,59519Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,348Federal debt$13,673Annual net price$14,24620West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,348Federal debt$24,500Annual net price$15,63421University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,212Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,35422Utah State UniversityLogan, UT · PublicYear-4 earnings$45,120Federal debt$21,000Annual net price$14,93623Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville, AR · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,868Federal debt$20,500Annual net price$12,97024University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,818Federal debt$25,154Annual net price$13,93625New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,272Federal debt$16,449Annual net price$8,889
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Valley City State University$69,7992Stephen F Austin State University$56,4373Auburn University$54,4494South Dakota State University$50,6235Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science$50,1716Michigan State University$49,9487Bemidji State University$49,0408The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$48,8829Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$47,49610University of New Hampshire-Main Campus$47,370Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Conservation ScientistsSOC 19-1031 · 1 crosswalk linksForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1043 · 1 crosswalk linksZoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSOC 19-1023 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley City State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Valley City, ND | $69,799 | $25,500 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nacogdoches, TX | $56,437 | $31,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $54,449 | $25,740 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $50,623 | $24,798 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceBachelor's Degree | Paul Smiths, NY | $50,171 | $24,874 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $49,948 | $28,425 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Bemidji State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bemidji, MN | $49,040 | $22,301 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $48,882 | $27,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $47,496 | $21,500 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $47,370 | $27,000 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | $47,356 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtBachelor's Degree | Arcata, CA | $47,003 | $22,500 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Missouri Western State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Joseph, MO | $46,342 | Not available | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $46,209 | $15,499 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $46,171 | $21,150 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $45,571 | $25,000 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $45,502 | $26,893 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $45,445 | $25,750 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Tennessee Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cookeville, TN | $45,348 | $13,673 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $45,348 | $24,500 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $45,212 | Not available | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $45,120 | $21,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Arkansas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Russellville, AR | $44,868 | $20,500 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $44,818 | $25,154 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $44,272 | $16,449 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Murray State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murray, KY | $43,844 | $21,500 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | The University of MontanaBachelor's Degree | Missoula, MT | $43,286 | $25,000 | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | $43,171 | $26,500 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $42,618 | $23,937 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $42,567 | $25,572 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $42,330 | $25,556 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Otterbein UniversityBachelor's Degree | Westerville, OH | $41,121 | $25,850 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $40,434 | $20,872 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, KY | $40,149 | $19,224 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Unity Environmental UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Gloucester, ME | $39,017 | $27,000 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Delaware Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Doylestown, PA | $38,899 | $26,420 | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Michigan Technological UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houghton, MI | $38,775 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | East Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Commerce, TX | Not available | $19,866 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,841 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.