by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Environmental Education covers Environmental Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Environmental Education At Various Educational Levels As A K-12 Classroom Educator. Includes Instruction In Foundations Of Environmental Education, Instructional Methods, And Related Content Knowledge. Read on to learn the key facts every environmental education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental education programs.
Nationwide, environmental education draws strong interest, with 86 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental Education Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Environmental Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a environmental education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a environmental education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 83 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 45.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| Master’s degree | 6.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in environmental education prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to environmental education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for environmental education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
With 10 different environmental education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental education school rankings to help you.
Those considering environmental education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
