by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Environmental Health covers Environmental Health. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Environmental Sciences, Public Health, The Biomedical Sciences, And Environmental Toxicology To The Study Of Environmental Factors Affecting Human Health, Safety, And Related Ecological Issues, And Prepares Individuals To Function As Professional Environmental Health Specialists. Includes Instruction In Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Toxicology, Public Policy Analysis, Public Management, Risk Assessment, Communications, Environmental Law, Occupational Health And Safety Emergency Response, And Applications Such As Air Quality, Food Protection, Radiation Protection, Solid And Hazardous Waste Management, Water Quality, Soil Quality, Noise Abatement, Housing Quality, And Environmental Control Of Recreational Areas. Continue reading for the essential details every environmental health major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental health programs.
Across the country, environmental health is a popular field of study, with 1,269 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental Health Schools ranking analyzes these 78 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental health students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental health programs later in this article.
Programs in Environmental Health develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental health graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a environmental health program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a environmental health major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental health 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 305 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 856 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 83 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental health tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental health careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying environmental health prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to environmental health.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental health.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Industrial Ecologists | 136,627 | 8.5% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | 98,537 | 4.3% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 72,502 | 2.7% |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 67,440 | 3.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental health graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,939 |
| 4 years | $60,432 |
| 5 years | $70,561 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for environmental health graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental health grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | $61,737 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $48,647 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 78 different environmental health programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental health school rankings to help you.
Students interested in environmental health, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 25,004 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,785 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,803 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,629 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 2,571 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,500 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 623 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 313 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 288 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
