Environmental Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest Environmental Studies programs?

Currently 476 accredited institutions offer Environmental Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (352 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (350 graduates), and University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (292 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in Environmental Studies growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 4,864 in 2010 to 10,185 in 2023-24. This represents a 109% increase overall from 2010.

Q: What career paths are available with a Environmental Studies degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, and Compliance Officers. Related occupations employ approximately 489,830 professionals nationwide.

Program Overview

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the complex relationships between human societies and the natural world. It equips students with analytical frameworks to address pressing ecological challenges through scientific inquiry, social critique, and ethical reflection. This program emphasizes systems thinking, sustainability, and real-world problem-solving across diverse environmental contexts.

Ecology and Environmental Science: Explores the structure and function of ecosystems, species interactions, and environmental change through empirical research and fieldwork.
Environmental Policy and Governance: Examines how laws, regulations, and institutional frameworks shape environmental protection and resource management at local, national, and global levels.
Sustainability and Resource Management: Focuses on strategies for responsible use of natural resources, including water, forests, and energy, to ensure long-term ecological and economic viability.
Environmental Justice and Social Dimensions: Investigates how environmental risks and benefits are distributed across communities, with attention to equity, marginalized populations, and community-based solutions.
Environmental Economics and Decision-Making: Applies economic models to evaluate environmental costs and benefits, supporting informed choices in conservation, development, and policy design.
Pollution Control and Environmental Health: Studies the sources, impacts, and mitigation of air, water, and soil pollution, with an emphasis on public health and regulatory standards.
Environmental Planning and Urban Ecology: Integrates land-use planning, infrastructure development, and ecological principles to create resilient, sustainable communities and built environments.

Environmental Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

10,185

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

476

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Environmental Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Environmental Studies degrees, including Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health and Compliance Officers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 489,830 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation	Median Salary	Salary Range	Total Employment	Hourly Rate
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1053	$87,710	$50,670 - $164,290	7,130	N/A
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 19-2041	$80,060	$50,130 - $134,830	84,930	$38.49
Compliance Officers 13-1041	$78,420	$46,230 - $130,030	397,770	$37.70

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 3 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

Environmental Studies Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $60,130 in Mississippi to $100,690 in District of Columbia—a 67% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 489,830 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Environmental Studies by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Environmental Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Environmental Studies is found at University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (352 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (350 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (292 graduates), University of California (UCB), Berkeley (277 graduates), and University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (185 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,167 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name	Award Levels	Graduates	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
University of California (UCSB)	Bachelor's	352	N/A	Santa Barbara, California	Public	ucsb.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R) Other Award	350	SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32	Madison, Wisconsin	Public	wisc.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	292	SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33	Boulder, Colorado	Public	colorado.edu
University of California (UCB)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	277	N/A	Berkeley, California	Public	berkeley.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	185	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	upenn.edu
Yale University	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	178	SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35	New Haven, Connecticut	Private	yale.edu
Arizona State University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	165	N/A	Scottsdale, Arizona	Public	asu.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's Doctorate (R) Other Award	163	N/A	Tempe, Arizona	Public	asu.edu
University of California (UCSC)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	145	N/A	Santa Cruz, California	Public	ucsc.edu
University of Phoenix (UOPX)	Bachelor's	144	N/A	Phoenix, Arizona	Private	phoenix.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)	Bachelor's	137	SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Public	umich.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Bachelor's Master's	136	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
Harvard University	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	126	SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private	harvard.edu
University of Vermont (UVM)	Bachelor's	121	SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32	Burlington, Vermont	Public	uvm.edu
Columbia Southern University (CSU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Other Award	109	N/A	Orange Beach, Alabama	Private	columbiasouthern.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)	Bachelor's	106	SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29	Orlando, Florida	Public	ucf.edu
University of California (UCD)	Bachelor's Master's	103	N/A	Davis, California	Public	ucdavis.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's Other Award	92	SAT: 1100-1290 ACT: 22-28	Athens, Ohio	Public	ohio.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)	Bachelor's	90	SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 21-27	Boone, North Carolina	Public	appstate.edu
University of Oregon (UO)	Bachelor's Master's	89	SAT: 1130-1360 ACT: 22-30	Eugene, Oregon	Public	uoregon.edu
University of California (UCSD)	Bachelor's	83	N/A	La Jolla, California	Public	ucsd.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)	Bachelor's	82	SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31	East Lansing, Michigan	Public	msu.edu
Texas A & M University	Bachelor's	78	SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31	College Station, Texas	Public	tamu.edu
Northeastern University (NU)	Bachelor's Master's	76	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	northeastern.edu
Duke University	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	76	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Durham, North Carolina	Private	duke.edu
Middlebury College	Bachelor's	76	SAT: 1430-1550 ACT: 33-34	Middlebury, Vermont	Private	middlebury.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)	Bachelor's	75	N/A	Flagstaff, Arizona	Public	nau.edu
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Bachelor's	74	SAT: 1370-1530 ACT: 30-34	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	Public	unc.edu
Eckerd College	Bachelor's	73	SAT: 1150-1336 ACT: 24-29	Saint Petersburg, Florida	Private	eckerd.edu
Antioch University (AUNE)	Postbac Cert. Master's Doctorate (R)	73	N/A	Keene, New Hampshire	Private	antiochne.edu
Tufts University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	71	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35	Medford, Massachusetts	Private	tufts.edu
Western Washington University (WWU)	Bachelor's Master's	70	SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 23-29	Bellingham, Washington	Public	wwu.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)	Bachelor's	69	N/A	San Diego, California	Public	sdsu.edu
University of Kansas (KU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	69	SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27	Lawrence, Kansas	Public	ku.edu
Utah State University (USU)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	69	SAT: 1060-1300 ACT: 20-28	Logan, Utah	Public	usu.edu
American University (AU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	68	SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 29-33	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	american.edu
Binghamton University	Bachelor's Master's	68	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34	Vestal, New York	Public	binghamton.edu
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)	Bachelor's Other Award	61	SAT: 940-1190 ACT: 21-28	Allendale, Michigan	Public	gvsu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)	Bachelor's Master's	61	SAT: 1030-1270 ACT: 22-30	Richmond, Virginia	Public	vcu.edu
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)	Bachelor's Master's	61	SAT: 1040-1210 ACT: 20-25	Fort Myers, Florida	Public	fgcu.edu
University of California (UCI)	Bachelor's	59	N/A	Irvine, California	Public	uci.edu
Indiana University (IUB)	Bachelor's Master's	59	SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32	Bloomington, Indiana	Public	indiana.edu
Tulane University of Louisiana	Bachelor's	58	SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33	New Orleans, Louisiana	Private	tulane.edu
Stockton University	Bachelor's	58	SAT: 1080-1260 ACT: 20-27	Galloway, New Jersey	Public	stockton.edu
University of Chicago (UChicago)	Bachelor's	56	SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35	Chicago, Illinois	Private	uchicago.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York	Master's	55	SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35	New York, New York	Private	columbia.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)	Bachelor's	54	SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29	Cincinnati, Ohio	Public	uc.edu
University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA)	Bachelor's	52	SAT: 1170-1350 ACT: 22-29	Asheville, North Carolina	Public	unca.edu
Kent State University	Bachelor's	52	SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25	Kent, Ohio	Public	kent.edu
Florida International University (FIU)	Bachelor's Master's	51	SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26	Miami, Florida	Public	fiu.edu
Prescott College (PC)	Bachelor's Master's	49	N/A	Prescott, Arizona	Private	prescott.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	49	SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28	Lexington, Kentucky	Public	uky.edu
Boston College (BC)	Bachelor's	49	SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 33-34	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Private	bc.edu
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)	Bachelor's Master's	49	N/A	Syracuse, New York	Public	esf.edu
University of San Francisco (USF)	Bachelor's Master's	48	SAT: 1210-1390 ACT: 26-31	San Francisco, California	Private	usfca.edu
Syracuse University	Bachelor's	47	SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32	Syracuse, New York	Private	syracuse.edu
Western Colorado University	Bachelor's Master's	46	SAT: 1000-1240 ACT: 21-28	Gunnison, Colorado	Public	western.edu
University of Utah (U of U)	Bachelor's	46	SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29	Salt Lake City, Utah	Public	utah.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)	Bachelor's Master's	45	N/A	Laramie, Wyoming	Public	uwyo.edu
University of Miami (UM)	Bachelor's	44	SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33	Coral Gables, Florida	Private	miami.edu
California State University (CSUMB)	Bachelor's	43	N/A	Seaside, California	Public	csumb.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Bachelor's	42	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
California State University (CSUSM)	Bachelor's	42	N/A	San Marcos, California	Public	csusm.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)	Bachelor's	41	SAT: 1180-1380 ACT: 26-32	Columbia, South Carolina	Public	sc.edu
Bates College	Bachelor's	40	SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 31-33	Lewiston, Maine	Private	bates.edu
Oberlin College	Bachelor's	39	SAT: 1370-1510 ACT: 30-33	Oberlin, Ohio	Private	oberlin.edu
Emory University	Bachelor's	38	SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 32-34	Atlanta, Georgia	Private	emory.edu
University of Arizona	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	37	SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30	Tucson, Arizona	Public	arizona.edu
San Francisco State University (SFSU)	Bachelor's	37	N/A	San Francisco, California	Public	sfsu.edu
Fort Lewis College (FLC)	Bachelor's	37	SAT: 980-1220 ACT: 16-24	Durango, Colorado	Public	fortlewis.edu
George Washington University (GW)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	37	SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	gwu.edu
Boise State University (BBU)	Bachelor's Other Award	37	N/A	Boise, Idaho	Public	boisestate.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)	Bachelor's	37	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33	Stony Brook, New York	Public	stonybrook.edu
Brown University	Bachelor's	37	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Providence, Rhode Island	Private	brown.edu
Northern Michigan University (NMU)	Bachelor's	36	N/A	Marquette, Michigan	Public	nmu.edu
Colgate University	Bachelor's	35	SAT: 1430-1530 ACT: 33-34	Hamilton, New York	Private	colgate.edu
Macalester College	Bachelor's	34	SAT: 1350-1510 ACT: 30-33	Saint Paul, Minnesota	Private	macalester.edu
Mississippi State University (MSU)	Bachelor's Master's	34	SAT: 1110-1410 ACT: 21-29	Mississippi State, Mississippi	Public	msstate.edu
University of Virginia (UVA)	Master's	34	SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34	Charlottesville, Virginia	Public	virginia.edu
Wesleyan University	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1450-1540 ACT: 33-35	Middletown, Connecticut	Private	wesleyan.edu
St Olaf College	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1260-1470 ACT: 28-32	Northfield, Minnesota	Private	wp.stolaf.edu
Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS)	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1220-1360 ACT: 26-32	Geneva, New York	Private	hws.edu
Fordham University	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33	Bronx, New York	Private	fordham.edu
North Carolina State University (NC State)	Master's	32	SAT: 1300-1460 ACT: 28-32	Raleigh, North Carolina	Public	ncsu.edu
Southern Oregon University (SOU)	Bachelor's Master's	32	N/A	Ashland, Oregon	Public	sou.edu
The Evergreen State College	Master's Residency	32	SAT: 890-1260 ACT: 22-26	Olympia, Washington	Public	evergreen.edu
Brandeis University	Bachelor's	31	SAT: 1390-1530 ACT: 31-34	Waltham, Massachusetts	Private	brandeis.edu
St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM)	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1110-1330 ACT: 24-30	St. Mary's City, Maryland	Public	smcm.edu
Rutgers University	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33	New Brunswick, New Jersey	Public	newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Portland State University (PSU)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	30	N/A	Portland, Oregon	Public	pdx.edu
California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt)	Bachelor's	29	N/A	Arcata, California	Public	humboldt.edu
Gustavus Adolphus College	Bachelor's	29	ACT: 25-31	Saint Peter, Minnesota	Private	gustavus.edu
Washington University in St Louis (WashU)	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35	Saint Louis, Missouri	Private	wustl.edu
College of Charleston (CofC)	Bachelor's Master's	29	SAT: 1130-1300 ACT: 24-29	Charleston, South Carolina	Public	cofc.edu
Tennessee Technological University (TTU)	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	29	SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 20-27	Cookeville, Tennessee	Public	tntech.edu
Baylor University	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1210-1400 ACT: 27-32	Waco, Texas	Private	baylor.edu
The University of Tampa (UTampa)	Bachelor's	28	N/A	Tampa, Florida	Private	ut.edu
Colorado College	Bachelor's	27	SAT: 1365-1520 ACT: 31-34	Colorado Springs, Colorado	Private	coloradocollege.edu
Northern Illinois University (NIU)	Bachelor's	27	N/A	Dekalb, Illinois	Public	niu.edu
Rowan University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	27	SAT: 1100-1310 ACT: 26-30	Glassboro, New Jersey	Public	rowan.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Environmental Studies programs

How much can I earn with a Environmental Studies degree?

Salaries for Environmental Studies graduates vary by role and location. Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $87,710 annually, while Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn around $80,060. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $100,690 compared to $60,130 in Mississippi. Approximately 489,830 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Environmental Studies programs?

Currently 476 accredited institutions offer Environmental Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (352 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (350 graduates), and University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (292 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Environmental Studies growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 4,864 in 2010 to 10,185 in 2023-24. This represents a 109% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Environmental Studies degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health, and Compliance Officers. Related occupations employ approximately 489,830 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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