Best Colleges for Environmental Science (2026)

270 programs ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.

270

Programs

$44,609

Avg Field Earnings

$21,258

Avg Net Price

67%

Avg Admit Rate

There are 270 accredited Environmental Science programs across U.S. colleges and universities, with graduate earnings ranging from $17,372 to $75,497. San Jose State University produces the highest-earning graduates, while the average program graduate earns $44,609 within four years of completion. Whether you're focused on maximizing earning potential or finding the best value, this data — sourced from the U.S. Department of Education — helps you compare programs side by side.

Quick Facts — Environmental Science Programs

Highest Earning
San Jose State University

$75,497field earnings

Most Selective
Yale University

4%acceptance rate

Best Grad Rate
Duke University

96%6-yr grad rate

Most Affordable
CUNY Queens College

$4,195avg net price

Top 15 Colleges for Environmental Science by Graduate Earnings

Ranked by field-specific earnings after graduation. Public and private nonprofit only.

#SchoolEarnings
1San Jose State University$75,497
2University of Maryland Global Campus$72,828
3University of California-Berkeley$72,049
4Colgate University$70,524
5University of California-Los Angeles$69,142
6Bentley University$68,600
7The University of Alabama$66,481
8Massachusetts Maritime Academy$64,846
9Seton Hall University$64,641
10Southern New Hampshire University$64,484
11University of California-Davis$63,206
12Bucknell University$63,177
13University of Redlands$62,460
14University of California-San Diego$62,369
15University of Southern California$62,010

Best Value Environmental Science Programs

Lowest net price among schools with above-median Environmental Science graduate earnings (above $45,180).

#1 Best ValuePublic
California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA

Net Price

$4,564

Field Earnings

$57,249

#2 Best ValuePublic
University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

Net Price

$6,541

Field Earnings

$50,192

#3 Best ValuePublic
Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

Net Price

$9,120

Field Earnings

$47,284

#4 Best ValuePublic
California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA

Net Price

$9,320

Field Earnings

$58,905

#5 Best ValuePublic
California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

Net Price

$9,338

Field Earnings

$60,564

What the Data Tells Us

  • 18 of the top 15 programs by earnings are at public universities — 7 are private nonprofits.
  • 2The #1 program (San Jose State University) pays 69% more than the average Environmental Science program nationally.
  • 3Average acceptance rate among Environmental Science programs is 67% — selectivity varies widely by school.
  • 4Best-value programs combine above-median earnings (>$45,180) with lower-than-average net prices.
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All Environmental Science Programs

All 270 institutions offering Environmental Science. Click column headers to sort. Includes for-profit institutions.

SchoolCityStateTypeField EarningsAdmit RateNet Price
San Jose State UniversitySan JoseCAPublic$75,49785%$13,760
University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphiMDPublic$72,828N/A$22,063
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeleyCAPublic$72,04911%$13,481
Colgate UniversityHamiltonNYPrivate Nonprofit$70,52414%$28,786
University of California-Los AngelesLos AngelesCAPublic$69,1429%$12,548
Bentley UniversityWalthamMAPrivate Nonprofit$68,60045%$37,930
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosaALPublic$66,48177%$22,420
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange BeachALPrivate For-Profit$65,626N/A$14,580
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards BayMAPublic$64,84695%$21,582
Seton Hall UniversitySouth OrangeNJPrivate Nonprofit$64,64173%$31,446
Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchesterNHPrivate Nonprofit$64,484100%$36,708
University of California-DavisDavisCAPublic$63,20642%$14,741
Bucknell UniversityLewisburgPAPrivate Nonprofit$63,17729%$40,766
University of RedlandsRedlandsCAPrivate Nonprofit$62,46083%$30,031
University of California-San DiegoLa JollaCAPublic$62,36927%$12,470
University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAPrivate Nonprofit$62,01010%$32,740
San Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCAPublic$61,93036%$15,364
University of San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAPrivate Nonprofit$61,93062%$41,431
Tulane University of LouisianaNew OrleansLAPrivate Nonprofit$61,56014%$39,949
Hobart William Smith CollegesGenevaNYPrivate Nonprofit$60,88764%$31,563
George Washington UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$60,69047%$36,586
California State University-SacramentoSacramentoCAPublic$60,56494%$9,338
California State University-East BayHaywardCAPublic$58,90597%$9,320
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege StationTXPublic$58,82457%$21,315
Occidental CollegeLos AngelesCAPrivate Nonprofit$58,58244%$38,263
Cornell UniversityIthacaNYPrivate Nonprofit$58,4409%$28,690
Santa Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCAPrivate Nonprofit$58,14048%$50,062
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew BrunswickNJPublic$57,74358%$24,406
Rutgers University-NewarkNewarkNJPublic$57,74371%$19,703
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPrivate Nonprofit$57,41679%$38,509
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAPublic$57,26233%$16,109
California State University-San BernardinoSan BernardinoCAPublic$57,24994%$4,564
Duke UniversityDurhamNCPrivate Nonprofit$56,7776%$29,612
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVAPublic$56,71855%$24,953
Villanova UniversityVillanovaPAPrivate Nonprofit$56,54927%$43,756
San Francisco State UniversitySan FranciscoCAPublic$56,38796%$12,278
Elon UniversityElonNCPrivate Nonprofit$55,58066%$41,555
Denison UniversityGranvilleOHPrivate Nonprofit$55,44517%$40,007
William Paterson University of New JerseyWayneNJPublic$55,27990%$18,745
Washington CollegeChestertownMDPrivate Nonprofit$55,20357%$27,898
Sonoma State UniversityRohnert ParkCAPublic$55,16693%$12,885
Randolph-Macon CollegeAshlandVAPrivate Nonprofit$55,00087%$27,866
Towson UniversityTowsonMDPublic$54,96682%$17,413
Iowa State UniversityAmesIAPublic$54,86089%$18,589
California State University-Long BeachLong BeachCAPublic$54,74946%$10,440
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege ParkMDPublic$54,19345%$15,678
American Public University SystemCharles TownWVPrivate For-Profit$54,110N/A$9,597
The University of the SouthSewaneeTNPrivate Nonprofit$53,23757%$27,872
Rowan UniversityGlassboroNJPublic$53,12578%$22,408
University of California-RiversideRiversideCAPublic$53,05276%$14,304
University of North GeorgiaDahlonegaGAPublic$53,05068%$9,823
State University of New York at PlattsburghPlattsburghNYPublic$53,04978%$17,156
University of HoustonHoustonTXPublic$52,88674%$14,276
Emory UniversityAtlantaGAPrivate Nonprofit$52,86011%$22,585
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborMIPublic$52,39116%$13,138
Roger Williams UniversityBristolRIPrivate Nonprofit$51,64088%$37,999
California State University-Monterey BaySeasideCAPublic$51,60697%$13,663
Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNYPublic$51,55649%$18,784
University of DelawareNewarkDEPublic$51,18971%$17,799
University at AlbanyAlbanyNYPublic$51,11769%$17,167
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenverCOPublic$51,11399%$15,327
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaignILPublic$50,97842%$14,355
Ball State UniversityMuncieINPublic$50,87086%$14,940
Binghamton UniversityVestalNYPublic$50,86339%$21,620
University of California-IrvineIrvineCAPublic$50,84629%$14,251
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluthMNPublic$50,76589%$18,743
Northeastern UniversityBostonMAPrivate Nonprofit$50,6045%$30,915
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionCOPublic$50,33182%$15,103
Western Washington UniversityBellinghamWAPublic$50,22493%$21,193
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYPublic$50,19763%$18,952
University of FloridaGainesvilleFLPublic$50,19224%$6,541
University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver FallsWIPublic$49,88082%$14,054
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCPublic$49,87215%$11,655
Willamette UniversitySalemORPrivate Nonprofit$49,84577%$25,121
University of California-Santa CruzSanta CruzCAPublic$49,82866%$17,890
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbiaSCPublic$49,48160%$22,811
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherstMAPublic$49,21860%$22,383
Boston CollegeChestnut HillMAPrivate Nonprofit$49,11116%$41,704
Gettysburg CollegeGettysburgPAPrivate Nonprofit$49,04839%$31,490
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattleWAPublic$49,04439%$14,091
University of Washington-Bothell CampusBothellWAPublic$49,04491%$12,319
University of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacomaWAPublic$49,04483%$10,163
University of Rhode IslandKingstonRIPublic$48,97072%$21,440
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioTXPublic$48,95587%$10,836
University of Colorado BoulderBoulderCOPublic$48,88178%$25,346
University of IowaIowa CityIAPublic$48,82584%$22,531
Loyola University ChicagoChicagoILPrivate Nonprofit$48,82282%$36,079
Oberlin CollegeOberlinOHPrivate Nonprofit$48,76234%$38,645
University of ArkansasFayettevilleARPublic$48,42874%$18,209
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNormanOKPublic$48,32777%$15,300
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMDPublic$48,30672%$16,467
University of Minnesota-CrookstonCrookstonMNPublic$48,21288%$12,212
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmahaNEPublic$48,07487%$13,441
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolisMNPublic$48,03080%$16,778
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempeAZPublic$47,97790%$14,967
Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdaleAZPublic$47,97767%N/A
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbusOHPublic$47,92961%$17,339
Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaPAPublic$47,80380%$28,198
Clemson UniversityClemsonSCPublic$47,75338%$22,253
Dartmouth CollegeHanoverNHPrivate Nonprofit$47,6715%$29,519
Upper Iowa UniversityFayetteIAPrivate Nonprofit$47,57396%$20,942
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesvilleVAPublic$47,45717%$21,565
Oakland UniversityRochester HillsMIPublic$47,28488%$9,120
George Mason UniversityFairfaxVAPublic$47,28387%$17,915
Oregon State UniversityCorvallisORPublic$47,25077%$19,604
Bates CollegeLewistonMEPrivate Nonprofit$47,21013%$29,351
University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen BayWIPublic$47,09189%$13,369
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingMIPublic$47,06985%$19,680
University of Massachusetts-BostonBostonMAPublic$47,00384%$17,707
Augustana CollegeRock IslandILPrivate Nonprofit$46,92963%$22,736
University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurhamNHPublic$46,89688%$23,805
American UniversityWashingtonDCPrivate Nonprofit$46,78062%$41,943
Middlebury CollegeMiddleburyVTPrivate Nonprofit$46,75811%$31,483
Baylor UniversityWacoTXPrivate Nonprofit$46,59551%$41,104
University of Nevada-RenoRenoNVPublic$46,53474%$15,927
University of New EnglandBiddefordMEPrivate Nonprofit$46,50792%$38,107
Keene State CollegeKeeneNHPublic$46,42190%$17,887
Cleveland State UniversityClevelandOHPublic$46,41191%$14,764
University of Phoenix-ArizonaPhoenixAZPrivate For-Profit$46,315N/A$13,520
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntarioCAPrivate For-Profit$46,315N/AN/A
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonWIPublic$46,19345%$17,354
St. John's University-New YorkQueensNYPrivate Nonprofit$46,18183%$29,999
Plymouth State UniversityPlymouthNHPublic$46,17388%$19,216
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVAPublic$46,04793%$23,433
University of ConnecticutStorrsCTPublic$46,03552%$25,097
Texas State UniversitySan MarcosTXPublic$46,02089%$16,805
Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdochesTXPublic$46,00694%$14,260
Brown UniversityProvidenceRIPrivate Nonprofit$45,9685%$25,184
Brandeis UniversityWalthamMAPrivate Nonprofit$45,95141%$35,736
Clark UniversityWorcesterMAPrivate Nonprofit$45,81140%$28,714
University of WyomingLaramieWYPublic$45,68597%$13,599
Westfield State UniversityWestfieldMAPublic$45,49381%$16,721
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint PeterMNPrivate Nonprofit$45,25461%$22,900
Dickinson CollegeCarlislePAPrivate Nonprofit$45,23842%$37,607
University of Massachusetts-LowellLowellMAPublic$45,21583%$17,163
University of ArizonaTucsonAZPublic$45,14486%$16,674
Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztownPAPublic$45,01991%$21,331
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas CityMOPublic$44,93872%$13,310
University of Michigan-FlintFlintMIPublic$44,91670%$7,007
University of UtahSalt Lake CityUTPublic$44,91186%$16,200
Colby CollegeWatervilleMEPrivate Nonprofit$44,6997%$17,180
University of Michigan-DearbornDearbornMIPublic$44,54856%$9,492
Purdue University GlobalWest LafayetteINPublic$44,508N/A$7,770
Kansas State UniversityManhattanKSPublic$44,48682%$19,406
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewaterWIPublic$44,45586%$14,158
Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwahNJPublic$44,16571%$18,173
University of VermontBurlingtonVTPublic$44,13165%$19,343
Saint Johns UniversityCollegevilleMNPrivate Nonprofit$44,04791%$25,672
Seattle UniversitySeattleWAPrivate Nonprofit$43,72677%$34,662
Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiCorpus ChristiTXPublic$43,42589%$15,225
St Olaf CollegeNorthfieldMNPrivate Nonprofit$43,25448%$23,874
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendaleMIPublic$43,06483%$16,317
Shepherd UniversityShepherdstownWVPublic$43,02997%$11,363
CUNY Queens CollegeQueensNYPublic$42,93264%$4,195
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincolnNEPublic$42,89687%$17,747
SUNY at Purchase CollegePurchaseNYPublic$42,87274%$18,913
University of South FloridaTampaFLPublic$42,84343%$9,812
Miami University-OxfordOxfordOHPublic$42,77075%$28,384
SUNY OneontaOneontaNYPublic$42,72170%$19,158
Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantMIPublic$42,66190%$17,597
Barnard CollegeNew YorkNYPrivate Nonprofit$42,6229%$28,800
DePaul UniversityChicagoILPrivate Nonprofit$42,41276%$30,902
Florida State UniversityTallahasseeFLPublic$42,24424%$11,297
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalbILPublic$42,06970%$13,391
University of San DiegoSan DiegoCAPrivate Nonprofit$42,00752%$30,365
Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint CloudMNPublic$41,51895%$13,529
University of Houston-Clear LakeHoustonTXPublic$41,36891%$15,563
University of KentuckyLexingtonKYPublic$41,14993%$18,851
Portland State UniversityPortlandORPublic$40,96891%$9,552
Knox CollegeGalesburgILPrivate Nonprofit$40,88171%$24,595
Texas Tech UniversityLubbockTXPublic$40,84773%$19,070
Lewis & Clark CollegePortlandORPrivate Nonprofit$40,84278%$36,013
Rhode Island CollegeProvidenceRIPublic$40,75292%$9,478
Tufts UniversityMedfordMAPrivate Nonprofit$40,04411%$39,998
Westminster UniversitySalt Lake CityUTPrivate Nonprofit$40,00267%$27,094
Vermont State UniversityRandolphVTPublic$39,99782%$18,212
Delaware Valley UniversityDoylestownPAPrivate Nonprofit$39,90393%$28,278
Stockton UniversityGallowayNJPublic$39,76589%$20,670
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleighNCPublic$39,68042%$17,303
Eastern Washington UniversityCheneyWAPublic$39,67191%$13,886
Roanoke CollegeSalemVAPrivate Nonprofit$39,58883%$24,503
Longwood UniversityFarmvilleVAPublic$39,39190%$19,066
Ithaca CollegeIthacaNYPrivate Nonprofit$39,37869%$33,926
Salisbury UniversitySalisburyMDPublic$39,36687%$17,743
University of MaineOronoMEPublic$39,29797%$17,510
Boise State UniversityBoiseIDPublic$39,29687%$21,610
University of West FloridaPensacolaFLPublic$39,20958%$9,364
Bemidji State UniversityBemidjiMNPublic$39,19556%$15,261
Ashford UniversitySan DiegoCAPrivate For-Profit$39,133N/A$31,266
University of DenverDenverCOPrivate Nonprofit$39,01778%$36,131
Purdue University-Main CampusWest LafayetteINPublic$38,98950%$14,600
Florida International UniversityMiamiFLPublic$38,95755%$9,288
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWIPublic$38,93691%$15,014
Bridgewater CollegeBridgewaterVAPrivate Nonprofit$38,83892%$17,800
Allegheny CollegeMeadvillePAPrivate Nonprofit$38,81155%$22,940
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbiaMOPublic$38,80878%$20,268
The University of MontanaMissoulaMTPublic$38,77396%$16,784
University of RochesterRochesterNYPrivate Nonprofit$38,76240%$29,278
Bowdoin CollegeBrunswickMEPrivate Nonprofit$38,6387%$14,398
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmingtonNCPublic$38,50864%$20,109
Juniata CollegeHuntingdonPAPrivate Nonprofit$38,50879%$23,988
University of North Carolina at PembrokePembrokeNCPublic$38,40093%$10,260
California State University-ChicoChicoCAPublic$38,31993%$14,480
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZPublic$38,20090%$14,158
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanoogaTNPublic$37,77081%$14,265
Wellesley CollegeWellesleyMAPrivate Nonprofit$37,72414%$25,496
Saint Michael's CollegeColchesterVTPrivate Nonprofit$37,71685%$25,239
University of ToledoToledoOHPublic$37,70292%$17,249
California State University-San MarcosSan MarcosCAPublic$37,36495%$10,229
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnatiOHPublic$36,99785%$25,648
Northern Michigan UniversityMarquetteMIPublic$36,95584%$14,085
California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcataCAPublic$36,89498%$13,171
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland HeightsKYPublic$36,89468%$8,191
Kent State University at KentKentOHPublic$36,62286%$20,787
Eckerd CollegeSaint PetersburgFLPrivate Nonprofit$36,54276%$38,071
Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancasterPAPrivate Nonprofit$36,53628%$36,425
Appalachian State UniversityBooneNCPublic$36,42390%$16,836
Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgevilleGAPublic$35,95278%$20,686
University of OregonEugeneORPublic$35,91688%$22,182
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilantiMIPublic$35,65680%$15,407
University of Hawaii at HiloHiloHIPublic$35,43461%$11,856
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwaterOKPublic$35,38575%$17,447
University of PortlandPortlandORPrivate Nonprofit$35,34989%$28,210
Framingham State UniversityFraminghamMAPublic$35,03284%$16,114
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort MyersFLPublic$34,86663%$12,568
Rollins CollegeWinter ParkFLPrivate Nonprofit$34,84948%$34,732
University of Southern MainePortlandMEPublic$34,46579%$13,596
University of KansasLawrenceKSPublic$34,37493%$18,059
Fort Lewis CollegeDurangoCOPublic$34,20077%$17,296
Western Carolina UniversityCullowheeNCPublic$34,10582%$13,315
University of North Carolina AshevilleAshevilleNCPublic$33,87392%$12,250
University of Central FloridaOrlandoFLPublic$33,70040%$10,411
Stonehill CollegeEastonMAPrivate Nonprofit$33,69266%$33,016
Montana State UniversityBozemanMTPublic$33,47082%$22,499
Paul Smiths College of Arts and SciencePaul SmithsNYPrivate Nonprofit$33,39877%$26,683
St Lawrence UniversityCantonNYPrivate Nonprofit$33,27054%$28,651
Yale UniversityNew HavenCTPrivate Nonprofit$32,9094%$23,777
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolisINPublic$32,46976%$11,668
California State University-Channel IslandsCamarilloCAPublic$31,93895%$9,849
Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoaNCPrivate Nonprofit$31,82071%$21,249
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomingtonINPublic$31,65578%$16,264
Western Colorado UniversityGunnisonCOPublic$31,313100%$16,425
SUNY BrockportBrockportNYPublic$31,22371%$16,353
The University of Texas at El PasoEl PasoTXPublic$31,207100%$9,403
University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonieWIPublic$31,12888%$17,490
University of IdahoMoscowIDPublic$31,02876%$14,831
Wofford CollegeSpartanburgSCPrivate Nonprofit$30,82452%$18,732
Southern Oregon UniversityAshlandORPublic$30,63289%$16,732
University of St ThomasSaint PaulMNPrivate Nonprofit$30,52085%$29,155
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicagoILPublic$30,49075%$14,109
Utah State UniversityLoganUTPublic$30,24992%$14,936
Macalester CollegeSaint PaulMNPrivate Nonprofit$29,55929%$32,149
Skidmore CollegeSaratoga SpringsNYPrivate Nonprofit$29,11921%$32,297
Gonzaga UniversitySpokaneWAPrivate Nonprofit$28,76382%$35,119
Flagler CollegeSaint AugustineFLPrivate Nonprofit$28,17581%$30,525
Catawba CollegeSalisburyNCPrivate Nonprofit$27,38975%$17,879
University of Central ArkansasConwayARPublic$27,11889%$16,511
Lake Forest CollegeLake ForestILPrivate Nonprofit$26,99857%$28,673
Northland CollegeAshlandWIPrivate Nonprofit$25,56375%$36,119
Carthage CollegeKenoshaWIPrivate Nonprofit$25,55387%$26,565
Stetson UniversityDeLandFLPrivate Nonprofit$23,79072%$19,372
University of Puget SoundTacomaWAPrivate Nonprofit$23,43772%$38,394
Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth HadleyMAPrivate Nonprofit$22,79136%$26,441
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort LauderdaleFLPrivate Nonprofit$22,09873%$30,371
King's CollegeWilkes-BarrePAPrivate Nonprofit$22,08093%$23,093
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazooMIPublic$21,91985%$15,273
Smith CollegeNorthamptonMAPrivate Nonprofit$21,64821%$27,579
Pitzer CollegeClaremontCAPrivate Nonprofit$21,57025%$34,191
Luther CollegeDecorahIAPrivate Nonprofit$19,23972%$23,097
Colorado CollegeColorado SpringsCOPrivate Nonprofit$17,37218%$33,375

Showing 270 of 270 schools