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Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,247/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Small (4,000 openings/yr)

ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 37 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$534K	$530K	$490K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.5x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	5.0x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,260

Out-of-state: $106,320 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,004

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,625

8.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,619

67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Mississippi State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program produces graduates earning $30,247/yr — within striking distance of the $29,850 national average for this field.

The 13.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,625 debt-to-$30,247 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #7 out of 37 programs, Mississippi State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $30,247 to $50,619 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Mississippi State University

A 76% acceptance rate means Mississippi State University is accessible to most applicants, serving 18,092 students in Mississippi State, MS.

See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi State University →

Top Career Paths

Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr

Zoologists and wildlife biologists $72,860/yr

Conservation scientists $67,950/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mississippi State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mississippi State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program score?

This program scores 31/100 — on the lower end for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Mississippi State University rank so high for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?

The #7 ranking out of 37 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →