Environmental Science major
Environmental Science: courses, careers, and where to study
Environmental Science combines biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address climate, conservation, water, and pollution challenges.
An Environmental Science major draws on biology, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, and policy. Programs typically require a strong natural-science core plus environmental-specific coursework in ecology, climate science, hydrology, environmental chemistry, GIS, and environmental policy. Many programs include a field-experience component (forest, wetland, marine, or urban field stations).
Graduates work in environmental consulting, federal and state agencies (EPA, USGS, NOAA, state DEPs), nonprofits, sustainability roles in industry, and graduate research. The major pairs well with a minor in GIS, Public Policy, or Economics.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Environmental Science maps to CIP 03.0104, Environmental Science, within the NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to the study of the physical environment and the solution of environmental problems, including subjects such as abating or controlling environmental pollution and degradation; the interaction between human society and the natural environment; and natural resources management. Includes instruction in biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, climatology, statistics, and mathematical modeling.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Environmental Science is awarded as
Of the 10,608 Environmental Science credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate2%173
- Associate4%435
- Bachelor's80%8,515
- Graduate14%1,485
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 38 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 2 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Ecology and biodiversity
- Environmental chemistry
- Climate science and atmospheric science
- Hydrology and water resources
- Geology and earth systems
- GIS and remote sensing
- Environmental policy and law
- Senior research project
Typical careers
- Environmental Consultant
- GIS Analyst
- Sustainability Specialist
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Conservation Scientist
- Wildlife Biologist
Typical salary range: $48,000–$72,000 early-career (BLS environmental scientist median $80,060)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Environmental Science, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officers | $78,420 | 33,300 | +3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $80,060 | 8,500 | +4.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,490 | 5,600 | +4% | Associate's degree |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,310 | 3,900 | -3.2% | Associate's degree |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $87,710 | 700 | +2.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Environmental Science does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Environmental Science major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Environmental Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Environmental Science department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Environmental Science program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Environmental Science credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Southern New Hampshire UniversityNH · 554
- American Public University SystemWV · 301
- Oregon State UniversityOR · 178
- University of South FloridaFL · 168
- University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · 136
- University of California-DavisCA · 133
- University of California-Los AngelesCA · 130
- University of North Carolina WilmingtonNC · 129
- Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · 127
- Florida State UniversityFL · 120
- Western Washington UniversityWA · 118
- University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · 113
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Environmental Science credentials were awarded
33 states have a distinct enough set of Environmental Science colleges to be worth its own page.
- California71
- New York51
- Pennsylvania47
- Texas31
- Ohio30
- Massachusetts27
- Florida21
- Wisconsin18
- Michigan18
- Illinois17
- New Jersey16
- Minnesota15
- North Carolina14
- Indiana14
- Iowa13
- Washington12
- Virginia11
- Arizona10
- Georgia10
- Oregon9
- Maryland9
- Missouri9
- New Hampshire8
- Tennessee8
- Colorado8
- Maine7
- Alabama7
- Montana6
- Connecticut6
- West Virginia5
- Vermont5
- Arkansas5
- Utah5
Search Environmental Science schools by state
- Environmental Science in California
- Environmental Science in Florida
- Environmental Science in Georgia
- Environmental Science in Illinois
- Environmental Science in Maryland
- Environmental Science in Massachusetts
- Environmental Science in New York
- Environmental Science in North Carolina
- Environmental Science in Pennsylvania
- Environmental Science in Texas
Related majors
Biology
Biology is the foundational pre-health major, covering molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of living systems.
Chemistry
Chemistry studies matter and its transformations, preparing graduates for pharmaceutical, materials, energy, environmental, and biotech careers, plus medical and graduate school.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Environmental Science degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Business & Finance careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Environmental Science degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Environmental Science path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.