Best degree programs for Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary, ranked by enrollment
11 college programs and 1,041 schools train Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $94,980 median wage, 6,690 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
11 college programs at 1,041 schools train environmental science teachers, postsecondary, graduating 28,981 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Environmental Science. The job pays a median of $94,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About environmental science teachers, postsecondary
Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
11 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 03.0104 | 10,966 | 37.8% | 635 | $34,020 | $23,032 |
| 2 | CIP 03.0103 | 9,602 | 33.1% | 470 | $34,020 | $23,032 |
| 3 | CIP 30.3301 | 4,424 | 15.3% | 226 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 4 | CIP 30.4401 | 1,229 | 4.2% | 70 | — | — |
| 5 | CIP 13.1316 | 1,021 | 3.5% | 160 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 6 | CIP 26.1310 | 879 | 3.0% | 42 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 7 | CIP 26.1307 | 405 | 1.4% | 37 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 8 | CIP 26.1399 | 344 | 1.2% | 17 | $29,460 | $23,480 |
| 9 | CIP 30.4101 | 90 | 0.3% | 11 | — | — |
| 10 | CIP 40.0509 | 19 | 0.1% | 10 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 11 | Geobiology CIP 30.4301 | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 6 feeder programs | 654 | Environmental Studies | 90% | — | 45% |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · 3 feeder programs | 547 | Environmental Studies | 74% | — | 78% |
| 3 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 538 | Sustainability Studies | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 504 | Environmental Science | 43% | $34,565 | 100% |
| 5 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 485 | Environmental Studies | 83% | — | 33% |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 451 | Sustainability Studies | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 7 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 5 feeder programs | 392 | Environmental Science | 85% | — | 39% |
| 8 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 340 | Environmental Studies | 93% | — | 11% |
| 9 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 331 | Environmental Science | 57% | $10,199 | — |
| 10 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 311 | Environmental Science | 86% | — | 42% |
| 11 | University of Vermont Burlington, VT Public · 4 feeder programs | 305 | Environmental Studies | 79% | — | 65% |
| 12 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · 5 feeder programs | 298 | Environmental Science | 65% | — | 93% |
| 13 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 295 | Environmental Studies | 75% | — | 66% |
| 14 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 267 | Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 46% | $11,580 | — |
| 15 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · 3 feeder programs | 261 | Environmental Science | 70% | — | 77% |
| 16 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 6 feeder programs | 260 | Environmental Science | 77% | — | 43% |
| 17 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 3 feeder programs | 248 | Environmental Studies | 93% | — | 16% |
| 18 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 244 | Environmental Science | 85% | — | 42% |
| 19 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 4 feeder programs | 236 | Environmental Science | 88% | — | 61% |
| 20 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · 6 feeder programs | 219 | Environmental Studies | 61% | — | 90% |
| 21 | Yale University New Haven, CT Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 217 | Environmental Studies | 96% | $27,025 | 4% |
| 22 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · 3 feeder programs | 213 | Environmental Studies | 72% | — | 88% |
| 23 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 4 feeder programs | 195 | Environmental Studies | 68% | — | 90% |
| 24 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · 3 feeder programs | 190 | Sustainability Studies | 65% | — | 86% |
| 25 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NY Public · 5 feeder programs | 189 | Conservation Biology | 66% | — | 63% |
| 26 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 186 | Environmental Studies | 0% | — | 67% |
| 27 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 183 | Environmental Science | 91% | $18,925 | 5% |
| 28 | Montana State University Bozeman, MT Public · 3 feeder programs | 176 | Environmental Science | 57% | — | 82% |
| 29 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 170 | Environmental Studies | 75% | — | 90% |
| 30 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · 3 feeder programs | 167 | Environmental Studies | 65% | — | 85% |
| 31 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 166 | Environmental Science | 95% | $17,613 | 9% |
| 32 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 4 feeder programs | 166 | Environmental Studies | 84% | — | 57% |
| 33 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · 6 feeder programs | 164 | Sustainability Studies | 75% | — | 77% |
| 34 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 4 feeder programs | 157 | Environmental Science | 85% | — | 80% |
| 35 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · 3 feeder programs | 154 | Environmental Studies | 80% | — | 78% |
| 36 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 3 feeder programs | 151 | Environmental Studies | 69% | — | 93% |
| 37 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · 4 feeder programs | 150 | Sustainability Studies | 91% | — | 24% |
| 38 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 148 | Environmental Science | 93% | — | 9% |
| 39 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · 3 feeder programs | 146 | Sustainability Studies | 89% | — | 27% |
| 40 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 6 feeder programs | 145 | Environmental Studies | 81% | — | 85% |
| 41 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 145 | Environmental Science | 91% | — | 15% |
| 42 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 4 feeder programs | 144 | Sustainability Studies | 75% | — | 84% |
| 43 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 144 | Environmental Studies | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 44 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 143 | Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 81% | $13,712 | 68% |
| 45 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 4 feeder programs | 142 | Environmental Science | 68% | — | 86% |
| 46 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 133 | Sustainability Studies | 86% | — | 55% |
| 47 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 5 feeder programs | 132 | Sustainability Studies | 90% | — | 38% |
| 48 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · 3 feeder programs | 131 | Environmental Science | 85% | — | 42% |
| 49 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 129 | Environmental Studies | 97% | $22,055 | 5% |
| 50 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 128 | Environmental Studies | 76% | — | 36% |
What environmental science teachers, postsecondary earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $108,290 | 300 | 0.38× | 97 | 3,503 |
| New York | $102,640 | 610 | 1.47× | 89 | 2,128 |
| Massachusetts | $106,110 | 280 | 1.76× | 46 | 1,553 |
| Florida | $77,830 | 80 | 0.19× | 37 | 1,359 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,640 | 240 | 0.93× | 74 | 1,108 |
| Wisconsin | $79,120 | 160 | 1.29× | 24 | 1,063 |
| Texas | $79,160 | 380 | 0.63× | 43 | 1,043 |
| Arizona | $81,730 | 190 | 1.39× | 20 | 1,011 |
| Ohio | $82,920 | 210 | 0.87× | 46 | 1,001 |
| Colorado | $78,800 | 210 | 1.70× | 15 | 993 |
| North Carolina | $82,360 | 210 | 0.97× | 32 | 968 |
| Michigan | $112,730 | 270 | 1.45× | 31 | 965 |
| Washington | $101,430 | 190 | 1.27× | 20 | 950 |
| Illinois | $104,440 | 170 | 0.67× | 38 | 942 |
| New Hampshire | $102,650 | 90 | 2.92× | 13 | 752 |
| Oregon | $90,270 | 170 | 2.01× | 15 | 750 |
| Utah | $103,510 | 40 | 0.58× | 10 | 726 |
| Virginia | $104,730 | 300 | 1.69× | 22 | 571 |
| New Jersey | $82,890 | 350 | 1.88× | 26 | 502 |
| Minnesota | $93,640 | 120 | 0.95× | 30 | 501 |
| Vermont | $102,580 | 100 | 7.38× | 10 | 486 |
| Indiana | $78,400 | 70 | 0.48× | 28 | 415 |
| Georgia | $84,290 | 330 | 1.56× | 20 | 409 |
| Connecticut | — | 120 | 1.66× | 14 | 386 |
| Maine | $92,120 | 30 | 1.15× | 10 | 354 |
| Iowa | $79,570 | 40 | 0.57× | 15 | 337 |
| Maryland | $131,060 | 220 | 1.82× | 20 | 320 |
| Alabama | $64,700 | 40 | 0.47× | 12 | 304 |
| Montana | $97,890 | 60 | 2.60× | 8 | 297 |
| Missouri | $83,210 | 100 | 0.79× | 19 | 289 |
| Oklahoma | $113,680 | 30 | 0.45× | 11 | 247 |
| Tennessee | $98,560 | 100 | 0.72× | 14 | 226 |
| District of Columbiamoderate | $99,300 | — | — | 4 | 221 |
| South Carolina | $99,540 | 130 | 1.29× | 11 | 220 |
| Kentucky | $139,110 | 70 | 0.83× | 12 | 155 |
| Arkansas | $59,910 | 40 | 0.75× | 8 | 113 |
| Nevadamoderate | $94,820 | 50 | 0.68× | 4 | 108 |
| New Mexico | $111,270 | 50 | 1.41× | 8 | 59 |
| Mississippimoderate | $76,210 | — | — | 4 | 30 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Skills
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Science4.0
- Writing4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring3.9
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training4.4
- English Language4.4
- Biology4.3
- Chemistry4.0
- Mathematics3.9
- Computers and Electronics3.8
Abilities
- Oral Expression4.4
- Written Comprehension4.1
- Inductive Reasoning4.0
- Deductive Reasoning4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Speech Clarity4.0
Core activities
- Training and Teaching Others4.5
- Getting Information4.5
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
- Working with Computers4.3
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.2
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 11 majors mapped to Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary11 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 03.0103Environmental Studies
- 03.0104Environmental Science
- 13.1316Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
- 26.1307Conservation Biology
- 26.1310Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- 26.1399Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other
- 30.3301Sustainability Studies
- 30.4101Environmental Geosciences
- 30.4301Geobiology
- 30.4401Geography and Environmental Studies
- 40.0509Environmental Chemistry
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Environmental Science, which awarded 10,966 degrees in 2024-25, 37.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Environmental Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 11 programs to this occupation. The largest are Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Sustainability Studies, Ecology, Geography and Environmental Studies, plus 4 more. Together they graduate about 28,981 people a year.
How much do environmental science teachers, postsecondary earn?+
The median is $94,980 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $57,780 at the 10th percentile to $164,190 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for environmental science teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +2.9% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,041 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 11 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do environmental science teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1053.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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