Best institutions to study Energy and Environmental Policy
A program of study that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to climate change, energy policy, environmental economics, global sustainability, and security.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 82 Energy and Environmental Policy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 03.0209, a specialization of Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy (CIP 03.02), and leads most directly to the Compliance Officers occupation (BLS SOC 13-1041).
About Energy and Environmental Policy programs
A program of study that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to climate change, energy policy, environmental economics, global sustainability, and security. Includes instruction in climate change, clean energy technologies, environmental policy, environmental law, environmental economics, food security, fossil fuels, renewable and sustainable energy sources, and water issues.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Energy and Environmental Policy program focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to climate change, energy policy, and environmental management. This program is designed for students interested in understanding and addressing the complex challenges of sustainability and resource management in today's world.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in climate change, clean energy technologies, environmental law, and economics. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, preparing graduates for various roles in environmental policy and management.
Credentials awarded
What Energy and Environmental Policy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate51 graduates / yr · 6 institutions62%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year15 graduates / yr · 2 institutions18%
- Bachelor's degree12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions15%
- Master's degree3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Energy and Environmental Policy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 60 |
| 2023 | 80 |
| 2024 | 83 |
| 2025 | 82 |
CIP 03.0209 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 11 institutions for Energy and Environmental Policy, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 35 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 2 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 70% | — | $39,422 |
| 3 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 41% | — | — |
| 4 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 65% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 7 | 51% | — | $40,553 |
| 6 | SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NYPublicBachelor's | 5 | 28% | — | — |
| 7 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 75% | $30,225 | — |
| 8 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 66% | — | — |
| 9 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
| 10 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicMaster's | 1 | 68% | — | — |
| 11 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 69% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy field (CIP 03.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Energy and Environmental Policy graduates come from. Each state links to all Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | 35 | Harvard University35 / yr |
| Washington | 2 | 16 | The Evergreen State College9 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 9 | Oregon State University9 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 8 | SUNY Morrisville5 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point7 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 3 | American University3 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | Loyola University Chicago2 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Michigan Technological University1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Texas Tech University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1041, Compliance Officers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Energy and Environmental Policy program can pursue careers as Compliance Officers or in related fields. The job outlook for these positions is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of approximately 33,300 jobs and a median wage of $78,420, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 03.0209
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Compliance Officersprimary SOC 13-1041 | $80,730 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~33,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other SOC 19-3099 | $101,110 | -1.7% Decline | ~3,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Energy and Environmental Policy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
- Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
- Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
- Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
- Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.
Tools and technology used
Other Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy (CIP 03.02).
- Environmental/CIP 03.0201
Natural Resources Management and Policy 1,612 graduates / yr72 institutions - Environmental/CIP 03.0204
Natural Resource Economics 323 graduates / yr19 institutions - Environmental/CIP 03.0299
Natural Resources Management and Policy 315 graduates / yr21 institutions - Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources ManagementCIP 03.0205293 graduates / yr32 institutions
- Environmental/CIP 03.0208
Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services 222 graduates / yr21 institutions - Environmental/CIP 03.0207
Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism 189 graduates / yr15 institutions - Land Use Planning and Management/CIP 03.0206
Development 81 graduates / yr14 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Bioenergy03.0210
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy programs →
Common questions
What degrees are offered in this program?+
The program offers a Postbaccalaureate certificate, an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, a Bachelor's degree, and a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
Students will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, and effective writing.
What are common career paths after graduation?+
Common career paths include Compliance Officers and various roles in environmental policy and management.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 33,300 annual openings and a median wage of $78,420.
What is the CIP code for Energy and Environmental Policy?+
Energy and Environmental Policy is CIP 03.0209 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy (CIP 03.02). NCES defines it as: A program of study that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to climate change, energy policy, environmental economics, global sustainability, and security. Includes instruction in climate change, clean energy technologies, environmental policy, environmental law, environmental economics, food security, fossil fuels, renewable and sustainable energy sources, and water issues.
How many institutions offer Energy and Environmental Policy programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Energy and Environmental Policy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 82 credentials in the year. That is 2.6% of all Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy graduates.
How much do Energy and Environmental Policy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Compliance Officers occupation, which Energy and Environmental Policy most directly leads to, pays a median of $80,730 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy field report median earnings of $40,553 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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