2026 Best Wildlife Management Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Wildlife Management master’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 97 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is South Dakota State University, our #1 Wildlife Management school in the United States. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. South Dakota State University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $24,798 in debt. Read more about South Dakota State University
A rank of #2 makes Clemson University one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Clemson University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $23,783 in debt. Read the full report on Clemson University
Out of the 97 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Oregon State University landed the #3 spot. Based in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Oregon State University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $24,043 in debt. Read the full report on Oregon State University
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top choices in the United States. The University Of Tennessee is a public school based in Knoxville, TN. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
Michigan State University came in at #5 on this year's Wildlife Management ranking in the United States. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $28,425 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. More on Michigan State University
Iowa State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. This public school is set in Ames, IA. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. See the full Iowa State University profile
Texas Tech University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. The median Wildlife Management program debt is $24,271. Get the full Texas Tech University report
West Virginia University landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Morgantown, WV. West Virginia University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. West Virginia University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $24,500 in debt. See the full West Virginia University profile
Mississippi State University placed #10 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Read the full report on Mississippi State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #11 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Florida ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $20,872 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. More on University Of Florida
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. University Of Maine graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Students borrow a median of $26,893 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. See the full University Of Maine profile
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. New Mexico State University Main Campus Wildlife Management students take on a median of $16,449 in debt. More on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Arkansas Tech University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Get the full Arkansas Tech University report
The University Of Montana ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. This public school is set in Missoula, MT. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. The median Wildlife Management program debt is $25,000. More on The University Of Montana
Oregon Coast Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. More on Oregon Coast Community College
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. See the full Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus profile
Zane State College placed #18 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full Zane State College report
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on Brigham Young University Provo
University Of California Davis did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full University Of California Davis report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Georgia placed #23 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. More on University Of Georgia
University Of Delaware ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
Butte College
Butte College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Butte College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Wildlife Management Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Haywood Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. More on Haywood Community College
Shawnee Community College came in at #27 in this year's ranking. More on Shawnee Community College
East Mississippi Community College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on East Mississippi Community College
Tennessee Technological University did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Tennessee Technological University
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Puerto Rico Humacao profile
Delaware Valley College did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Delaware Valley College
Miles Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Miles Community College profile
Murray State University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Murray State University
University Of Rhode Island placed #34 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
Finger Lakes Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. More on Finger Lakes Community College
Juniata College
Juniata College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Juniata College
Front Range Community College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Front Range Community College profile
Tarleton State University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Tarleton State University
Garrett College
Garrett College placed #39 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. More on Garrett College
Texas A And M University College Station placed #40 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Linn Benton Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on Linn Benton Community College
Southeastern Illinois College did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Southeastern Illinois College report
Brigham Young University Idaho did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Brigham Young University Idaho
Friends University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read the full report on Friends University
Southwest Texas Junior College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about Southwest Texas Junior College
Montana State University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full Montana State University report
Texas A And M University Commerce landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Texas A And M University Commerce report
Spokane Community College landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Spokane Community College
Western New Mexico University placed #49 among Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Western New Mexico University profile
South Plains College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Wildlife Management schools. Read the full report on South Plains College
Related Wildlife Management Rankings
See rankings for 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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).