The Best Master’s in Wildlife & Wildlands Science and Management Programs

Check out how the best master’s in wildlife and wildlands science and management programs prepare graduates to protect the natural world.

Edited by

Updated December 18, 2024

Why Trust BestColleges

3,700+ Nonprofit, accredited colleges analyzed
6,000+ Users connected with programs every month
300+ College and university partners
40+ Expert reviewers

Learn more about our

Industrialization and the growing human population increasingly affect the natural world. A master’s in wildlife and wildlands science and management can equip students with the skills they need to better manage our impact and protect nature. The degree can lead to environmentalism, zoology, and conservation careers.

The Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS) projects 8% growth in life, physical, and social science occupations between 2020 and 2030, an addition of more than 110,000 new jobs. Furthermore, the median annual salary in this sector exceeded the median annual salary for all occupations by more than $20,000 in May 2021.

Despite the strong job outlook, rising program costs and graduate school debts can dissuade prospective students from choosing graduate school. To help prospective students with their decision, we look at the best master’s in wildlife and wildlands science and management programs from the top traditional and online schools.

Our Top Pick

University of Florida – Gainesville, Florida

Why It’s #1: UF offers students many reasons to attend its top-ranked program, including the highest graduation of programs in this discipline. While the school’s tuition is on the high end, a large percentage of UF learners receive financial aid. The school also features one of the lowest percentages of financial aid via student loans, meaning many degree-seekers at UF qualify for scholarships, grants, and other more desirable forms of aid.

Popular Online Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

Learn More

Visit Site

In this Article

Best Accredited Master’s in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Programs

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$27,335

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

37%

Acceptance Rate

46%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

52,407

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

Acceptance Rate

37%

Online Enrollment

46%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

52,407

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI4 yearCampus + Online

$10,728

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$24,054

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

54%

Acceptance Rate

18%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,273

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,333

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

44,257

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,728

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,054

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,728

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,054

Acceptance Rate

54%

Online Enrollment

18%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,273

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,333

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

44,257

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,677

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,700

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

58%

Acceptance Rate

14%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,941

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,190

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

68,726

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,677

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,700

Texas A & M University-College Station

College Station, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,677

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,700

Acceptance Rate

58%

Online Enrollment

14%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,941

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,190

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

68,726

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Clemson University

Clemson, SC4 yearCampus + Online

$10,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,050

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

51%

Acceptance Rate

29%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,118

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,110

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

25,822

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,050

Clemson University

Clemson, SC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,050

Acceptance Rate

51%

Online Enrollment

29%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,118

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,110

Retention Rate

93%

Students Enrolled

25,822

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI4 yearCampus + Online

$18,858

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$37,056

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

71%

Acceptance Rate

26%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,555

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$40,384

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

49,809

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,858

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,056

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,858

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,056

Acceptance Rate

71%

Online Enrollment

26%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,555

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$40,384

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

49,809

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK4 yearCampus + Online

$10,414

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$21,904

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,962

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,980

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

7,179

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,414

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,904

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Fairbanks, AK4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,414

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,904

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

68%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,962

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,980

Retention Rate

73%

Students Enrolled

7,179

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS4 yearCampus + Online

$8,800

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,840

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

54%

Acceptance Rate

18%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,840

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

22,226

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,800

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,840

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,800

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,840

Acceptance Rate

54%

Online Enrollment

18%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,840

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

22,226

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR4 yearCampus + Online

$12,933

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$24,975

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

82%

Acceptance Rate

47%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,846

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,445

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

31,719

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,933

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,975

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,933

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,975

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

47%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,846

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,445

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

31,719

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Utah State University

Logan, UT4 yearCampus + Online

$5,996

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,327

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,549

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,087

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

27,810

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,996

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,327

Utah State University

Logan, UT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,996

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,327

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

50%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,549

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,087

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

27,810

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV4 yearCampus + Online

$10,134

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$26,154

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

84%

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,320

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

26,839

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,134

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,154

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,134

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,154

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

34%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,976

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,320

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

26,839

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Frequently Asked Questions About Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Programs

Yes. A master’s in wildlife and wildlands science and management program can provide students with very specialized training in an important field. These courses of study can also prepare graduates for positions managing natural resources and multiple-use land. They also learn to support wildlife and ecological conservation efforts.

While traditional programs come with many benefits, remote learners can enjoy the added value of an online degree. Online learning offers flexibility, which can help working professionals balance school and their jobs. Limited travel requirements also enable degree-seekers to expand their search parameters.