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Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,603/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Small (4,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.6x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 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 $512K $510K $475K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 15.6x 14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.0x 4.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,588
Out-of-state: $101,084 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$26,988
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,449
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,906
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

New Mexico State University-Main Campus's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates start at $33,603/yr — above the $29,850 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 15.6x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,449 in median debt clears quickly against $33,603 in annual earnings.

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

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,603 to $48,906 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About New Mexico State University-Main Campus

A 76% acceptance rate means New Mexico State University-Main Campus is accessible to most applicants, serving 11,561 students in Las Cruces, NM. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at New Mexico State University-Main Campus →

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

Compare this program → View all 37 schools offering Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management →

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Other Schools

Valley City State University ($44,253) Stephen F Austin State University ($43,282) Brigham Young University-Idaho ($39,896) South Dakota State University ($39,483) Northwest Missouri State University ($36,758) Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($35,979) Bemidji State University ($35,806) University of Nevada-Reno ($33,351)

Other Majors at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,790) Chemical Engineering ($75,766) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($73,229) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($68,002) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($63,674) Mechanical Engineering ($62,813) Engineering Technology, General ($60,250) Civil Engineering ($60,212)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 New Mexico State University-Main Campus's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program score?
This program scores 35/100 — 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 New Mexico State University-Main Campus rank so high for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?
The #5 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 →