2026 Best Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Wildlife Management doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 97 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
South Dakota State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Wildlife Management doctoral degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Brookings, SD. South Dakota State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,798 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. More on South Dakota State University
A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median Wildlife Management program debt is $28,425. Get the full Michigan State University report
You'll be in good company at Clemson University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Read more about Clemson University
A rank of #4 makes Texas Tech University one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Texas Tech University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $24,271 in debt. Get the full Texas Tech University report
The strong Wildlife Management programs at Oregon State University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. See the full Oregon State University profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #6 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Located in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Madison Wildlife Management students take on a median of $21,813 in debt. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Florida placed #7 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. University Of Florida Wildlife Management students take on a median of $20,872 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Florida
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. The median Wildlife Management program debt is $26,893. Read the full report on University Of Maine
The University Of Montana placed #9 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. The University Of Montana is a public school based in Missoula, MT. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. The University Of Montana Wildlife Management students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Get the full The University Of Montana report
University Of Nevada Reno did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full University Of Nevada Reno report
South Plains College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. See the full South Plains College profile
Sul Ross State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Sul Ross State University report
Western New Mexico University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Read more about Western New Mexico University
Shawnee Community College placed #14 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Shawnee Community College profile
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #16 in this year's ranking. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Butte College
Butte College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Butte College
University Of Georgia placed #18 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Georgia
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Southeastern Illinois College placed #20 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read more about Southeastern Illinois College
Austin Community College District placed #21 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full Austin Community College District report
Mississippi State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. See the full Mississippi State University profile
Miles Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read more about Miles Community College
Bemidji State University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full Bemidji State University report
University Of Arizona placed #25 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Arizona
Rest of the Top 50 Best Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Iowa State University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. See the full Iowa State University profile
Friends University did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Friends University
Western Washington University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western Washington University report
Juniata College
Juniata College placed #29 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full Juniata College report
Texas A And M University Kingsville did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Texas A And M University Kingsville report
Washington State University placed #31 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read the full report on Washington State University
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #32 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. More on Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Northern Arizona University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Northern Arizona University
Salish Kootenai College placed #34 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. More on Salish Kootenai College
Stephen F Austin State University placed #35 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read more about Stephen F Austin State University
University Of Rhode Island did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
Oregon Coast Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Get the full Oregon Coast Community College report
Missouri Western State University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Missouri Western State University
Casper College
Casper College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. See the full Casper College profile
University Of California Berkeley landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill placed #42 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill profile
East Mississippi Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read more about East Mississippi Community College
Frostburg State University placed #44 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Frostburg State University profile
Michigan Technological University came in at #45 in this year's ranking. More on Michigan Technological University
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. More on Brigham Young University Provo
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College report
Snow College
Snow College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Snow College report
Brigham Young University Idaho ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. More on Brigham Young University Idaho
Southern Arkansas University Tech ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Tech
Related Wildlife Management Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Wildlife Management Schools (All Levels)
- Best Wildlife Management Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Wildlife Management Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Wildlife Management Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Wildlife Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Wildlife Management Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Wildlife Management Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 97 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).