Why This Matters

  • ANOTHER 7,100 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS ARE NEEDED

    Environmental scientist and specialist jobs are growing faster than average, as they’re expected to increase 8% from 2019 to 2029. This will create another 7,100 jobs in the field, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • INCREASE YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL BY MORE THAN $9,500

    Environmental scientists who have a master’s in their field earn an average annual salary of $74,747. That’s substantially more than the $65,188 that environmental scientists who have bachelor’s degrees make on average.

  • SPECIALIZE IN OVER A DOZEN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS

    The field of environmental studies is vast, and there are many ways to specialize within the field. You can focus on animal studies, climate change, energy, food, environmental policy and politics, water, or another topic.

Our Research

We reviewed many Master’s in Environmental Management degrees, including online, on-campus, and dual-mode programs. Online programs may have a brief in-person component.

To maintain quality, we only looked at programs from regionally accredited schools. Many of these programs also have national accreditation through the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 50 hours to write this article
  • 186 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 205 education programs we compared

The Top 31 Master’s in Environmental Management Degree Programs

Best Master's in Environmental Management Degree Programs
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What You Should Know About This Degree

An environmental management degree is a multifaceted program that includes environmental sciences, leadership, and business courses. Because of its multidimensional nature, the degree can be used to pursue work in many different areas. Environmental scientists may work in research, environmental policy and law, resource management, alternative and renewable energy, or another related field. Consider what aspect of this field interests you the most, and choose a program that has a strong emphasis on the area that you’re personally interested in.

Most entry-level environmental management positions require only a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree may help you attain higher positions. Before you pursue a master’s degree, check whether experience could also qualify you for the job you want. Some employers will also promote or hire based on experience.

Although many programs can be completed mainly online, they might have a short in-person component. Find out whether an online program has an in-person orientation, an internship, or a seminary before applying. If a program does have an in-person portion, make sure you’ll have the scheduling flexibility to complete this part of the program.

What’s Next?

As you evaluate different Master’s in Environmental Management degrees further, consider these questions:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Some of these programs only enroll students who have a bachelor’s degree in a scientific subject or have work experience in environmental management. Other programs will accept students with any bachelor’s degree and regardless of their work experience. Confirm that you meet a program’s eligibility requirements before applying.
  • How long does it take to complete this online degree? Many of these programs range from 30 to 36 credits, but some degrees have much higher credit requirements. A 30-credit load takes about two years to complete, and most of these can be finished in two years if you study full-time.

When you have a short list of potential programs, find out how to apply to each one. You’ll want to know the application deadlines and required submissions materials. You can get this information from a program’s website or by contacting a program directly.

Also take into account the cost of a degree program. Discuss financial aid and scholarship opportunities with program officers. You might also be eligible for tuition reimbursement from an employer.