Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Managementat South Dakota State University
Graduates earn $39,483/yr in their first year — about 32.0% above the national Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $494K; scenarios range from $463K to $494K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota State University
South Dakota State's strong performance isn't just a number; it's a direct result of its location. You’ll be studying wildlife management in a state that serves as a massive natural laboratory, from prairies to the Black Hills. This gives you a crucial advantage, as the program has deep, long-standing connections with the state and federal agencies that are the primary employers in this field—think SD Game, Fish and Parks or the U.S. Forest Service. These government career tracks offer stability and benefits often missing in smaller non-profit roles. The curriculum is built around practical, in-the-field experience, which means you'll graduate with skills that employers in the region are actively hiring for. To maximize this advantage, seek out internships with a federal agency like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you graduate; it’s your best path to a direct-hire opportunity.
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 South Dakota State 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 South Dakota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota State 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 South Dakota State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at South Dakota State University?
A score of 38/100 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 $463,208 in decade earnings vs $493,806 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes South Dakota State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program stand out?
Ranked #4 of 37 programs nationally, South Dakota State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.