Best institutions to study Environmental Toxicology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals and systems occurring in the natural, work, and living environments; the management of environmental toxins and toxicity; and the development of protections for humans, animals, and plants.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 69 Environmental Toxicology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 26.1006, a specialization of Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10), and leads most directly to the Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 17-3025).
About Environmental Toxicology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals and systems occurring in the natural, work, and living environments; the management of environmental toxins and toxicity; and the development of protections for humans, animals, and plants. Includes instruction in applied ecology; microbiology; toxin transport, fate, and degradation; dermal toxicology; reproductive and genetic toxicology; atmospheric and environmental chemistry; metals toxicology; environmental mutagens and biotransformation; nutrient interaction; chemical sensitivity, disorders, and disease; risk assessment; animal waste management; environmental health; and hazardous materials management.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Environmental Toxicology program, part of the broader Pharmacology and Toxicology field, focuses on the scientific study of health effects linked to exposure to toxic chemicals in various environments. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding environmental toxins and their impact on human, animal, and plant health, as well as those looking to develop protective measures against these hazards.
Students will gain knowledge in applied ecology, microbiology, toxicology, and environmental chemistry. Core coursework includes risk assessment, chemical sensitivity, and hazardous materials management, equipping graduates with essential skills in science, critical thinking, and data analysis.
Credentials awarded
What Environmental Toxicology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship32 graduates / yr · 8 institutions46%
- Master's degree15 graduates / yr · 5 institutions22%
- Bachelor's degree13 graduates / yr · 1 institution19%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions13%
Graduates over time
Environmental Toxicology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 105 |
| 2013 | 102 |
| 2014 | 105 |
| 2015 | 108 |
| 2016 | 122 |
| 2017 | 131 |
| 2018 | 121 |
| 2019 | 109 |
| 2020 | 130 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2022 | 86 |
| 2023 | 79 |
| 2024 | 78 |
| 2025 | 69 |
Top 12 institutions for Environmental Toxicology, 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 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 86% | — | $39,202 |
| 2 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 75% | — | — |
| 3 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 69% | — | — |
| 4 | Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 42% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicDoctoralMaster's | 7 | 90% | — | — |
| 6 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicDoctoral | 4 | 93% | — | — |
| 7 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 76% | — | — |
| 8 | Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 27% | — | — |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 10 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicDoctoral | 3 | 81% | — | — |
| 11 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicDoctoral | 2 | 61% | — | — |
| 12 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla Aguadilla, PRPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 43% | $8,433 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pharmacology and Toxicology field (CIP 26.10) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states & territories
Where Environmental Toxicology graduates come from. Each state links to all Pharmacology and Toxicology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | 32 | University of California - Davis13 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 10 | Texas Tech University10 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 8 | Wright State University - Main Campus8 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 7 | University of Wisconsin - Madison7 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 3 | Southern University and A & M College3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 3 | Johns Hopkins University3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 3 | Michigan State University3 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | University at Albany2 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3025, Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Environmental Toxicology program can pursue careers as Environmental Engineering Technologists, Occupational Health and Safety Specialists, and Environmental Scientists. The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 1,100 annual openings and a median wage of $58,890, typically requiring at least an Associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 26.1006
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Techniciansprimary SOC 17-3025 | $59,920 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~1,100 | Associate's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists SOC 19-5011 | $90,150 | +12.5% Much faster than average | ~14,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 | $103,410 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~9,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health SOC 19-2041 | $82,220 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health SOC 19-4042 | $55,090 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Associate's degree |
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC 19-5012 | $61,560 | +8.5% Much faster than average | ~3,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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 Environmental Toxicology 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
- Maintain project logbook records or computer program files.
- Record laboratory or field data, including numerical data, test results, photographs, or summaries of visual observations.
- Perform environmental quality work in field or office settings.
- Produce environmental assessment reports, tabulating data and preparing charts, graphs, or sketches.
- Collect and analyze pollution samples, such as air or ground water.
- Decontaminate or test field equipment used to clean or test pollutants from soil, air, or water.
Tools and technology used
Other Pharmacology and Toxicology specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10).
- PharmacologyCIP 26.1001495 graduates / yr53 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1007234 graduates / yr15 institutions
- ToxicologyCIP 26.1004173 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Molecular PharmacologyCIP 26.100282 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.1099partial data44 graduates / yr4 institutions
- NeuropharmacologyCIP 26.1003partial data38 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Molecular ToxicologyCIP 26.1005limited data3 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Doctor's degree, Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, writing, and active listening.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change with about 1,100 annual openings.
What types of careers can I pursue?+
You can work as an Environmental Engineering Technologist, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, or Environmental Scientist.
What is the CIP code for Environmental Toxicology?+
Environmental Toxicology is CIP 26.1006 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pharmacology and Toxicology (CIP 26.10). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of the health effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals and systems occurring in the natural, work, and living environments; the management of environmental toxins and toxicity; and the development of protections for humans, animals, and plants. Includes instruction in applied ecology; microbiology; toxin transport, fate, and degradation; dermal toxicology; reproductive and genetic toxicology; atmospheric and environmental chemistry; metals toxicology; environmental mutagens and biotransformation; nutrient interaction; chemical sensitivity, disorders, and disease; risk assessment; animal waste management; environmental health; and hazardous materials management.
How many institutions offer Environmental Toxicology programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Environmental Toxicology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states & territories, awarding 69 credentials in the year. That is 6.1% of all Pharmacology and Toxicology graduates.
How much do Environmental Toxicology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation, which Environmental Toxicology most directly leads to, pays a median of $59,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pharmacology and Toxicology field report median earnings of $39,202 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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