Compare 10 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. programs in the West. Average earnings: $32,662.
The highest-earning Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $18K earnings gap across 10 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
New Mexico State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program leads with graduates earning $43,551—$11K above the field average of $33K. University of Idaho follows at $39K, while The University of Montana rounds out the top three at $35K. Regional publics dominate this specialized field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. New Mexico State graduates borrow $17,095 and face just an 11.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, students can cover their loans with less than five months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $43,551
Strong outcomes with 76% acceptance
11.2% payment burden | Good
18.8% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $43,551 | 28 | $17,095 | Good | $10,166 | Challenging | |
| #2 | University Of IdahoPublic | $38,589 | 35 | $21,982 | Challenging | $21,162 | High |
| #3 | $34,957 | 54 | $22,400 | Challenging | $19,000 | High | |
| #4 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $33,993 | 13 | $22,500 | High | $25,000 | High |
| #5 | $33,037 | 87 | $18,000 | Challenging | $18,257 | High | |
| #6 | $31,366 | 35 | $18,922 | High | $26,150 | High | |
| #7 | $29,896 | 92 | $13,000 | Challenging | $25,733 | High | |
| #8 | Utah State UniversityPublic | $29,685 | 39 | $14,340 | High | $13,923 | High |
| #9 | $26,353 | 22 | $13,969 | High | $7,556 | High | |
| #10 | $25,194 | 23 | $20,291 | High | $15,888 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
