Wildlife Biology
CIP Code: 26.0709A wildlife biology degree prepares graduates for careers in Zoologists and wildlife biologists, Biological technicians. 26 colleges and universities offer this program.
Annual Degrees Awarded
576
Colleges Offering
26
Avg. Career Salary
$62,430
Top Career Salary
$72,860
Wildlife Biology Salary by College
Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $44,055 four years after graduating (middle half: $32,942–$58,785). Where you study it matters: across 52 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $35,875 to $69,471.
Sort by:
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | 1 yr after | Median debt | Outcome Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT | $69,471 | $62,546 | $35,618 | $23,250 | B+ |
| 4 | University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, CT | $69,471 | $62,546 | $35,618 | $23,250 | B+ |
| 3 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT | $69,471 | $62,546 | $35,618 | $23,250 | B+ |
| 2 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT | $69,471 | $62,546 | $35,618 | $23,250 | B+ |
| 1 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | $69,471 | $62,546 | $35,618 | $23,250 | A |
| 6 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | $57,020 | $54,042 | $24,457 | — | A |
| 7 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK | $55,682 | $62,518 | $30,931 | $23,250 | A |
| 13 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | B |
| 12 | Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | C+ |
| 11 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | C |
| 10 | Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | B |
| 9 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | B |
| 8 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH | $55,352 | $59,069 | $29,303 | $23,356 | C |
| 14 | Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX | $54,030 | $54,933 | $30,736 | $18,500 | C |
| 15 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | $53,727 | $48,888 | $37,633 | — | A |
| 16 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND | $50,701 | $52,528 | $33,115 | $23,808 | B+ |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | $50,080 | $52,111 | $23,888 | $23,250 | A+ |
| 18 | Weber State University Ogden, UT | $49,480 | $46,895 | $28,461 | $18,532 | B+ |
| 19 | Berry College Mount Berry, GA | $48,958 | $50,681 | $33,258 | $22,500 | C+ |
| 20 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS | $48,908 | $50,774 | $26,843 | $21,750 | B |
| 21 | Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN | $48,161 | $51,668 | $27,096 | $19,500 | A |
| 22 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | $45,722 | $41,604 | $41,565 | $11,000 | B |
| 23 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | $45,501 | $48,556 | $29,996 | $21,375 | A |
| 24 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY | $44,424 | $46,300 | $29,359 | $19,221 | B |
| 25 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO | $44,226 | $41,360 | $27,741 | $23,875 | C+ |
| 27 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $44,201 | $44,461 | $27,491 | $24,596 | B |
| 26 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $44,201 | $44,461 | $27,491 | $24,596 | B+ |
| 28 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX | $43,943 | $44,677 | $22,264 | $25,000 | C+ |
| 29 | Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD | $43,434 | $38,118 | $29,851 | $18,750 | D |
| 30 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL | $43,207 | $42,451 | $23,366 | $19,750 | C |
| 31 | University of New England Biddeford, ME | $42,941 | $45,635 | $28,509 | $26,948 | B |
| 32 | Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH | $42,883 | $45,763 | $28,071 | $22,500 | B |
| 33 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NY | $42,505 | $40,456 | — | — | C+ |
| 34 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK | $42,474 | $47,688 | $23,031 | $20,500 | B+ |
| 35 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | $41,961 | $44,662 | $23,809 | $17,603 | A+ |
| 36 | Washington State University Pullman, WA | $41,888 | $38,528 | $28,469 | $17,625 | B |
| 37 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | $41,768 | $44,040 | $26,801 | $25,000 | A |
| 38 | Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX | $41,543 | $42,237 | $31,485 | $16,713 | A |
| 39 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH | $41,343 | $38,081 | $22,268 | $23,250 | B |
| 40 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | $41,103 | $37,428 | $23,988 | $24,393 | F |
| 41 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY | $40,755 | $38,790 | $27,922 | $22,500 | C |
| 42 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA | $40,575 | $41,265 | $27,287 | $26,400 | C+ |
| 43 | Canisius University Buffalo, NY | $40,174 | $38,237 | $26,398 | $23,250 | B |
| 44 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI | $39,677 | $41,286 | $25,303 | $27,000 | B |
| 45 | Friends University Wichita, KS | $39,329 | $40,830 | $24,692 | $18,750 | C |
| 46 | Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, ME | $39,302 | $41,768 | $30,987 | $27,000 | D |
| 47 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC | $38,699 | $41,530 | $24,921 | $23,000 | F |
| 48 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA | $38,495 | $35,028 | $28,565 | $20,095 | F |
| 49 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | $38,440 | $41,252 | $25,069 | $20,500 | A |
| 50 | University of Vermont Burlington, VT | $38,421 | $39,462 | $22,321 | $22,250 | B+ |
| 51 | University of Maine Orono, ME | $36,078 | $38,341 | $35,130 | $26,841 | C |
| 52 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH | $35,875 | $38,284 | $25,491 | $25,000 | D |
Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.
What Can You Do With a Wildlife Biology Degree?
Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:
$62,430
Average Salary Across Careers
$72,860
Highest Paying Career
2
Career Paths Available
Best Colleges for Wildlife Biology
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in wildlife biology.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO | 127 | B |
| 2 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Syracuse, NY | 46 | B |
| 3 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 36 | B |
| 4 | University of Vermont | Burlington, VT | 31 | B |
| 5 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | 27 | B |
| 6 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 25 | B |
| 7 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX | 50 | C+ |
| 8 | West Texas A & M University | Canyon, TX | 25 | C+ |
| 9 | Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk, NC | 43 | D |
Largest Wildlife Biology Programs
Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most wildlife biology graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.
| # | College | Location | Degrees Awarded | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO | 127 | B |
| 2 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX | 50 | C+ |
| 3 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Syracuse, NY | 46 | B |
| 4 | Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk, NC | 43 | D |
| 5 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 36 | B |
| 6 | University of Vermont | Burlington, VT | 31 | B |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | 27 | B |
| 8 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 25 | B |
| 9 | West Texas A & M University | Canyon, TX | 25 | C+ |
576
Degrees Awarded Annually
26
Colleges Offering Program
2
Related Careers
About Wildlife Biology
Wildlife Biology is a degree program offered at 26 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 576 students graduate with this degree.
Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as zoologists and wildlife biologists, biological technicians.
Program Classification
CIP Code
26.0709
Field (2-digit CIP)
26
Category (4-digit CIP)
26.07
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with a Wildlife Biology degree?
A Wildlife Biology degree can lead to careers as a
zoologists and wildlife biologists, biological technicians,
and more.
Top earners in related careers can make up to $72,860 annually.
How many colleges offer Wildlife Biology?
26 colleges and universities in the United States offer
Wildlife Biology as a degree program. Each year, approximately 576
students graduate with this degree.
What are the best colleges for Wildlife Biology?
The best colleges for Wildlife Biology based on Repit's ratings include
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, University of Wyoming, University of Vermont, Grand Valley State University.
Rankings are based on the college's overall Repit grade and the number of degrees awarded in this program.
What is the salary potential with a Wildlife Biology degree?
Graduates with a Wildlife Biology degree can expect average salaries around $62,430
in related careers, with top earners making up to $72,860.
Actual salaries depend on the specific career path, experience level, and location.