2026 Best Value Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Wildlife Management doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 97 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is South Dakota State University, our #1 best-value Wildlife Management school in the United States. This public school is set in Brookings, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,798 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,070. Set against $24,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. See the full South Dakota State University profile
A rank of #2 makes Texas Tech University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical Wildlife Management student debt is $24,271. Median earnings reach $62,454 ten years out. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University has an acceptance rate of 73%. Read the full report on Texas Tech University
You'll get strong value at Clemson University, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,513. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. About 38% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Clemson University report
Out of the 97 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #4 spot. Located in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,792. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%. More on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Out of the 97 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Oregon State University landed the #5 spot. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Oregon State University Wildlife Management students take on a median of $24,043 in debt. Oregon State University alumni report median earnings of $64,010 a decade after entry. Set against $24,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants. Read more about Oregon State University
Michigan State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,253 ten years after entry. Set against $28,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Michigan State University
University Of Florida placed #7 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical Wildlife Management student debt is $20,872. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,588 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. See the full University Of Florida profile
University Of Maine came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine Wildlife Management students take on a median of $26,893 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. That is a strong return on a $26,893 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Maine
The University Of Montana came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Missoula, MT, The University Of Montana is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Wildlife Management program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $44,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. Get the full The University Of Montana report
Shawnee Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Shawnee Community College report
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill
Haywood Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. See the full Haywood Community College profile
Dakota Wesleyan University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on Dakota Wesleyan University
Florida Keys Community College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Florida Keys Community College profile
Friends University placed #15 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read more about Friends University
Zane State College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. More on Zane State College
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #18 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full Texas A And M University Commerce report
Texas A And M University Kingsville offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Texas A And M University Kingsville
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. Read more about Stephen F Austin State University
Front Range Community College placed #22 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Front Range Community College profile
Northern Arizona University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. More on Northern Arizona University
Salish Kootenai College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. Read more about Salish Kootenai College
East Mississippi Community College placed #25 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full East Mississippi Community College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Wildlife Management Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Southern Arkansas University Tech came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southern Arkansas University Tech report
Spokane Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Spokane Community College
Unity College
Unity College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Unity College report
University Of Rhode Island came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Arizona State University report
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
Southwest Texas Junior College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Southwest Texas Junior College
Tarleton State University placed #34 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full Tarleton State University profile
South Plains College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full South Plains College profile
American Public University System ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. Get the full American Public University System report
University Of Alaska Southeast offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about University Of Alaska Southeast
Butte College
Butte College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. More on Butte College
Dakota College At Bottineau placed #39 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. More on Dakota College At Bottineau
Finger Lakes Community College placed #40 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full Finger Lakes Community College report
Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Brigham Young University Idaho report
Humboldt State University offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Humboldt State University
Garrett College
Garrett College placed #43 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Read the full report on Garrett College
Miles Community College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Miles Community College
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #46 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. See the full University Of New Hampshire Main Campus profile
University Of Puerto Rico Humacao offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on University Of Puerto Rico Humacao
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #48 among the best-value Wildlife Management schools in the United States. Get the full New Mexico State University Main Campus report
Otterbein University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Wildlife Management schools. See the full Otterbein University profile
Bemidji State University offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on Bemidji State University
Related Wildlife Management Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Wildlife Management Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Wildlife Management Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Wildlife Management Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Wildlife Management Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Wildlife Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Wildlife Management Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Wildlife Management Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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).
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