Home Schools Stephen F Austin State University Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Natural Resources · Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Rank #1 of 37

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Managementat Stephen F Austin State University

Graduates earn $43,282/yr in their first year — about 45.0% above the national Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $546K; scenarios range from $503K to $553K depending on AI disruption.

Nacogdoches, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
46 AVERAGE
46
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,282
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$546K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Stephen F Austin State University

While the earnings numbers are strong, your career path here is less about a high-paying corporate job and more about a passion for the outdoors. SFA's location in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods is its biggest asset. You're not just in a classroom; you're in a living laboratory, with direct access to the forests and ecosystems that will define your work. This creates a powerful pipeline into state and federal agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife or the U.S. Forest Service, as well as private timber and land management companies that dominate the regional economy. The curriculum is hands-on and practical, preparing you for the realities of fieldwork. To stand out, aggressively pursue seasonal internships and technician jobs during your summers—that real-world experience is what hiring managers value most.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$503K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$546K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple12.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$553K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple13.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Stephen F Austin State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates typically work

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.

1
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
2
Zoologists and wildlife biologists
+1.6% 10-yr growth · 1,400 openings/yr
$72,860/yr
Moderate
3
Conservation scientists
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$67,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

How Stephen F Austin State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Valley City State University
ND · Public
44
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
13.8x
ROI
Brigham Young University-Idaho
ID · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
20.4x
ROI
South Dakota State University
SD · Public
38
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Northwest Missouri State University
MO · Public
30
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
9.1x
ROI
Bemidji State University
MN · Public
31
DW Score
$36K
1-yr earn
7.8x
ROI
Also at Stephen F Austin State University

Other top programs at Stephen F Austin State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Stephen F Austin 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at Stephen F Austin State University

How does Stephen F Austin State University's Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management program score?

This program scores 46/100 — 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 Stephen F Austin State University rank so high for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management?

The #1 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.