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Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at The University of Montana

Missoula, MT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,339/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Small (4,000 openings/yr)

ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #18 of 37 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs Top 50%

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	$465K	$468K	$444K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.3x	14.4x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.7x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	25	25	23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,608

Out-of-state: $126,488 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,472

-110% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

9.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$40,484

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,339/yr, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates from The University of Montana land near the $29,850 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,339 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #18 of 37 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management programs, The University of Montana scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $28,339 to $40,484 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About The University of Montana

With 96% of applicants admitted, The University of Montana prioritizes broad access, enrolling 7,079 students in Missoula, MT.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Montana →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at The University of Montana?

A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management careers?

With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $444,320 in decade earnings vs $465,437 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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