Best Environmental Studies colleges in the U.S. 2026

For those interested in working to protect and improve the natural environment from human-generated waste and chemicals, a degree in environmental studies could be a great place to start. Environmental studies involves the research of ecosystems and natural processes that are essential to the health and wellbeing of the creatures that inhabit them. 

Environmental studies majors research a range of topics such as global warming, toxicology, pollution, and seasonal phenomena that can be applied in a variety of professional roles. For example, environmental studies majors can find work at the state level with the Department of Transportation to evaluate future construction of roads to be sure that sensitive species are not impacted by the new development.  

Students need to attend a four-year bachelor’s program that gives classes in-person with extensive fieldwork to become familiar with the techniques involved in each aspect of the environmental studies profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that opportunities in this field could grow by eight percent from 2020-2030.

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Best Environmental Studies colleges in the U.S. for 2026

University of California-Berkeley offers 3 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 277 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 212 Bachelor's degrees, 37 Master's degrees, and 28 Doctoral degrees.

Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University offers 3 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 76 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 44 Bachelor's degrees, 23 Master's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

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University of California-Santa Barbara offers 1 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 352 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 352 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Virginia-Main Campus offers 1 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 34 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 34 Master's degrees.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 1 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 32 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 32 Master's degrees.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 1 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 74 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 74 Bachelor's degrees.

Yale University
New Haven, CT
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Yale University offers 3 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 178 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 124 Master's degrees, 44 Bachelor's degrees, and 10 Doctoral degrees.

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Texas A&M University-College Station offers 1 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2024, 78 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 78 Bachelor's degrees.

Indiana University-Bloomington offers 2 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 59 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 48 Bachelor's degrees, and 11 Master's degrees.

Northeastern University offers 2 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 76 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 40 Bachelor's degrees, and 36 Master's degrees.

List of all Environmental Studies colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of California-Berkeley Logo University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA
4/5
23 : 1 45,882
Duke University Logo Duke University Durham, NC
5/5
11 : 1 17,499
University of California-Santa Barbara Logo University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
4/5
24 : 1 26,133
University of Virginia-Main Campus Logo University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
4/5
16 : 1 26,409
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Logo North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC
3/5
20 : 1 38,464