Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Managementat Otterbein University
Graduates earn $19,801/yr in their first year — about 34.0% below the national Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $376K; scenarios range from $375K to $362K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Otterbein University
While your passion for wildlife is commendable, this program's financial outcomes reflect the tough realities of the conservation field. Many entry-level roles are seasonal, part-time, or with non-profits and government agencies like the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which often have tight budgets. The path to a stable, well-paying career as a wildlife biologist frequently requires a master's degree or Ph.D., meaning this bachelor's is often a stepping stone, not a final destination. Otterbein's location in suburban Columbus also lacks the direct recruiting pipelines to major federal lands or research hubs that larger state universities in more rural areas might possess.
Before committing, contact the department and ask for a list of employers who have hired their graduates in the last three years to see if those career paths align with your own ambitions.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Otterbein University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
How Otterbein University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Otterbein University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Otterbein University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Otterbein University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Otterbein University?
A score of 13/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Otterbein University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $25,850 against $19,801/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $375,332 in decade earnings vs $361,831 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management from Otterbein University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.