Best Environmental Studies colleges in the U.S. 2025

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.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US

Best Environmental Studies colleges in the U.S. for 2025

University of California-Berkeley offers 3 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 299 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 222 Bachelor's degrees, 45 Master's degrees, and 32 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 2023, 87 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 54 Bachelor's degrees, 30 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

Find Online Schools

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 2023, 338 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 338 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 2023, 28 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 28 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 2023, 64 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 64 Bachelor'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 2023, 29 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 29 Master's degrees.

Yale University
New Haven, CT
Image by @madebywood

Yale University offers 3 Environmental Studies degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 156 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 121 Master's degrees, 27 Bachelor's degrees, and 8 Doctoral degrees.

Image by Blueag9

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 2023, 61 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 61 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 2023, 61 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 48 Bachelor's degrees, and 13 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 2023, 78 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 40 Master's degrees, and 38 Bachelor'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
3/5
23 : 1 45,699
Duke University Logo Duke University Durham, NC
5/5
12 : 1 17,112
University of California-Santa Barbara Logo University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
3/5
24 : 1 26,068
University of Virginia-Main Campus Logo University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
4/5
16 : 1 25,924
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Logo University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
3/5
19 : 1 32,234