Best institutions to study Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law
An advanced, professional study of the law, policies, and regulations governing the energy industry, environmental protection, natural resources and land use, and related topics.
21 U.S. institutions graduated 255 Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 22.0207, a specialization of Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02), and leads most directly to the Lawyers occupation (BLS SOC 23-1011).
About Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law programs
An advanced, professional study of the law, policies, and regulations governing the energy industry, environmental protection, natural resources and land use, and related topics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Energy program, formally known as Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law, is an advanced professional study focused on the legal frameworks governing the energy industry, environmental protection, and natural resources. This program is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of laws and policies that impact these critical areas.
Learn more about Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law →
Students in the Energy program will develop essential skills in speaking, critical thinking, and legal analysis. Coursework typically covers topics such as law and government, environmental regulations, and land use policies, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to navigate complex legal scenarios in the energy sector.
Credentials awarded
What Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree121 graduates / yr · 12 institutions48%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate106 graduates / yr · 6 institutions42%
- Post-master's certificate27 graduates / yr · 3 institutions11%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 143 |
| 2013 | 142 |
| 2014 | 136 |
| 2015 | 182 |
| 2016 | 183 |
| 2017 | 210 |
| 2018 | 256 |
| 2019 | 209 |
| 2020 | 238 |
| 2021 | 233 |
| 2022 | 247 |
| 2023 | 236 |
| 2024 | 221 |
| 2025 | 255 |
Top 21 institutions for Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 79 | 84% | — |
| 2 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 25 | 84% | $29,789 |
| 3 | Lewis & Clark College Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 75% | $27,621 |
| 4 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 95% | $22,242 |
| 5 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicMaster's | 15 | 75% | — |
| 6 | Pace University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 60% | $29,994 |
| 7 | Vermont Law and Graduate School South Royalton, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | — | — |
| 8 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 86% | $33,106 |
| 9 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 65% | — |
| 10 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicMaster's | 10 | 69% | — |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 68% | — |
| 12 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 88% | $29,023 |
| 13 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 59% | $22,906 |
| 14 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 84% | $26,589 |
| 15 | The University of Montana Missoula, MTPublicMaster's | 4 | 48% | — |
| 16 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicMaster's | 4 | 65% | — |
| 17 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 76% | $29,726 |
| 18 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster's | 3 | 83% | — |
| 19 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 54% | — |
| 20 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 97% | $16,260 |
| 21 | University of North Dakota Grand Forks, NDPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 60% | — |
Offered in 16 states
Where Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law graduates come from. Each state links to all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2 | 83 | Texas A&M University - College Station79 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 41 | George Washington University25 / yr |
| Louisiana | 3 | 26 | Tulane University of Louisiana11 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 19 | Pace University13 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 17 | Lewis & Clark College17 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 15 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus15 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 13 | Vermont Law and Graduate School13 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 11 | University of Utah11 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 8 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion8 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 4 | University of Miami4 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 4 | The University of Montana4 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 3 | University of Denver3 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 3 | University of Connecticut3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 3 | Indiana University - Indianapolis3 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 3 | Duke University3 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2 | University of North Dakota2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 23-1011, Lawyers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Energy program often pursue careers as lawyers or law teachers, with a median wage of $151,160. The job outlook for legal professions is about as fast as average, with an anticipated growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 31,500 annual openings in the field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 22.0207
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawyersprimary SOC 23-1011 | $159,670 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~31,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Law Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1112 | $128,500 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~2,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- 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).
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law 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
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Tools and technology used
Other Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies specializations
The 24 other 6-digit CIP codes under Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02).
- Advanced Legal Research/CIP 22.0201
Studies 5,052 graduates / yr77 institutions - Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesCIP 22.02991,551 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Programs for Foreign LawyersCIP 22.02021,380 graduates / yr34 institutions
- American/CIP 22.0203
U.S. Law/ Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence 949 graduates / yr40 institutions - Tax Law/CIP 22.0211
Taxation 749 graduates / yr24 institutions - Health LawCIP 22.0208448 graduates / yr21 institutions
- International Law and Legal StudiesCIP 22.0209388 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities LawCIP 22.0205353 graduates / yr25 institutions
- International Business, Trade, and Tax LawCIP 22.0210316 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Human Resources LawCIP 22.0220partial data235 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Intellectual Property LawCIP 22.0212110 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Arts and Entertainment LawCIP 22.0215limited data98 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Comparative LawCIP 22.0206partial data84 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Real Estate and Land Development LawCIP 22.0222limited data56 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Tribal/CIP 22.0224
Indigenous Law partial data56 graduates / yr7 institutions - Compliance LawCIP 22.0216partial data38 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Criminal Law and ProcedureCIP 22.0217partial data30 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Entrepreneurship LawCIP 22.0218limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Patent LawCIP 22.0213limited data1 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 5 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Canadian Law/
Legal Studies/ Jurisprudence22.0204 - Agriculture Law22.0214
- Family/
Child/ Elder Law22.0219 - Insurance Law22.0221
- Transportation Law22.0223
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, a Post-master's certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and legal analysis.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a lawyer or a law teacher, among other legal professions.
What is the job outlook for legal professions?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.1%.
What is the CIP code for Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law?+
Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law is CIP 22.0207 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (CIP 22.02). NCES defines it as: An advanced, professional study of the law, policies, and regulations governing the energy industry, environmental protection, natural resources and land use, and related topics.
How many institutions offer Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law programs?+
21 U.S. institutions reported Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 255 credentials in the year. That is 2.1% of all Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies graduates.
How much do Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Lawyers occupation, which Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law most directly leads to, pays a median of $159,670 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card