Best Environmental Science programs in Wisconsin, ranked by enrollment
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist.
24 schools in Wisconsin run programs that feed this job, graduating 672 people a year. The job pays a median of $55,290 in Wisconsin across about 380 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
8 programs in Wisconsin that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Wisconsin (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Wisconsin page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 30.3301In Wisconsin → | 307 | 45.7% | 10 | $37,223 | $20,968 |
| 2 | CIP 03.0104In Wisconsin → | 241 | 35.9% | 16 | $34,020 | $23,032 |
| 3 | CIP 30.4401In Wisconsin → | 71 | 10.6% | 4 | — | — |
| 4 | CIP 15.0506In Wisconsin → | 20 | 3.0% | 2 | $36,407 | $10,250 |
| 5 | Science Technologies/Technicians, Othermain feeder CIP 41.9999In Wisconsin → | 14 | 2.1% | 1 | $49,936 | $22,636 |
| 6 | CIP 15.0507In Wisconsin → | 7 | 1.0% | 2 | $36,407 | $10,250 |
| 7 | CIP 26.1006In Wisconsin → | 7 | 1.0% | 1 | $39,202 | $18,000 |
| 8 | CIP 40.0509In Wisconsin → | 5 | 0.7% | 2 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
Top 24 schools in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 6 of the 24 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 5 feeder programs | 311 | Sustainability Studies | — | 90% | — | 45% |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 67 | Environmental Science | $32,205 | 48% | — | 89% |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 52 | Environmental Science | $33,262 | 49% | — | 91% |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · 3 feeder programs | 36 | Environmental Science | $31,128 | 55% | — | 88% |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 23 | Environmental Science | — | 56% | — | 89% |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin - Superior Superior, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 21 | Environmental Science | — | 42% | — | 93% |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 20 | Sustainability Studies | — | 40% | — | 75% |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 19 | Environmental Science | $35,693 | 59% | — | 86% |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Geography and Environmental Studies | — | 71% | — | 76% |
| 10 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician | — | 25% | — | — |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 16 | Sustainability Studies | — | 46% | — | 87% |
| 12 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Environmental Science | $25,553 | 64% | $22,844 | 87% |
| 13 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Environmental Science | — | 83% | $25,376 | 81% |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI Public · 2 feeder programs | 8 | Environmental Science | $33,408 | 57% | — | 82% |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Sustainability Studies | — | 51% | — | 92% |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Sustainability Studies | — | 64% | — | 82% |
| 17 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Environmental Science | — | 71% | $22,601 | 67% |
| 18 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician | — | 58% | — | — |
| 19 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Environmental Science | — | 68% | $24,409 | 78% |
| 20 | Lawrence University Appleton, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Environmental Science | — | 77% | $19,788 | 64% |
| 21 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Environmental Science | — | 71% | $23,319 | 86% |
| 22 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Environmental Science | — | 64% | $19,138 | 78% |
| 23 | Beloit College Beloit, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Environmental Chemistry | — | 71% | $21,381 | 63% |
| 24 | Edgewood University Madison, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Environmental Science | — | 60% | $23,822 | 76% |
All 24 schools in Wisconsin
Every school in Wisconsin with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison | Public | 311 | 5 |
| University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 67 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 52 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie | Public | 36 | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville | Public | 23 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Superior | Superior | Public | 21 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 20 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | 19 | 1 |
| University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 18 | 1 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 16 | 1 |
| University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 16 | 2 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 14 | 1 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 11 | 1 |
| University of Wisconsin - River Falls | River Falls | Public | 8 | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 8 | 1 |
What environmental science and protection technicians, including health earn in Wisconsin
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $55,090. Wisconsin pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Wisconsin
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health page.
How to become a Environmental Science
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
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.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Wisconsin
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 11 majors mapped to Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health11 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 03.0104Environmental Science
- 15.0506Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Management and Recycling Technology/Technician
- 15.0507Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician
- 15.0508Hazardous Materials Management and Waste Technology/Technician
- 26.1006Environmental Toxicology
- 30.3301Sustainability Studies
- 30.4101Environmental Geosciences
- 30.4401Geography and Environmental Studies
- 40.0509Environmental Chemistry
- 41.0399Physical Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
- 41.9999Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing environmental science and protection technicians, including health programs in Wisconsin.
What degree do you need to become an Environmental Science?+
Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Sustainability Studies, which awarded 307 degrees in Wisconsin in 2024-25, 45.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Environmental Science?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 8 programs to this occupation. The largest are Sustainability Studies, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Geography and Environmental Studies, Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, plus 3 more. Together they graduate about 672 people a year in Wisconsin.
How much do environmental science and protection technicians, including health earn in Wisconsin?+
The median is $55,290 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 0.4% above the U.S. median of $55,090. 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 and protection technicians, including health growing?+
BLS projects a +4.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 5,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Wisconsin?+
24 institutions in Wisconsin reported graduates from at least one of the 8 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 and protection technicians, including health work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Sanitarian, Environmental Health Officer (EHO), Environmental Technician (Environmental Tech), Soil Lab Technician (Soil Laboratory Technician) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-4042.
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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