Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's wildlife management program starts graduates at barely livable wages—$27,698 in the first year—but the trajectory tells a different story. By year four, earnings jump 41% to nearly $39,000, suggesting graduates who stick with the field find their footing after entry-level field positions. The manageable $27,000 debt burden (95th percentile nationally—meaning lower debt than 95% of similar programs) keeps this challenging start from becoming a financial trap.

The national comparison reveals why this field demands realistic expectations: UNH sits squarely in the middle of wildlife programs nationwide, and even top-performing programs in this major rarely crack $35,000 in starting salary. This isn't a UNH problem; it's a field where conservation work and government positions simply don't pay well initially. The 60th percentile state ranking is somewhat misleading since UNH is the only program in New Hampshire, but the low debt relative to peers nationwide matters more here.

For families: this works if your student is passionate about conservation careers and you can absorb that first year's tight budget. The debt won't crush them, and mid-career prospects improve considerably. But if they're choosing wildlife management as a "nature-adjacent" backup plan, understand they could earn similar money in fields with easier entry paths and better long-term ceilings.