by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law explores Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law. An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Governing The Energy Industry, Environmental Protection, Natural Resources And Land Use, And Related Topics. Examples: [Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law (Ll.m., M.s.)], [Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law (J.s.d./s.j.d.)]. Read on to learn the key facts every energy, environment, & natural resources law student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering energy, environment, & natural resources law programs.
Across the country, energy, environment, & natural resources law is a popular field of study, with 221 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law Schools ranking analyzes these 22 schools to determine the best overall colleges for energy, environment, & natural resources law students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of energy, environment, & natural resources law programs later in this article.
Programs in Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations energy, environment, & natural resources law graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a energy, environment, & natural resources law program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a energy, environment, & natural resources law major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several energy, environment, & natural resources law 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 219 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to energy, environment, & natural resources law tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in energy, environment, & natural resources law careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in energy, environment, & natural resources law can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to energy, environment, & natural resources law.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to energy, environment, & natural resources law.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of energy, environment, & natural resources law graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for energy, environment, & natural resources law graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers energy, environment, & natural resources law grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 22 different energy, environment, & natural resources law programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased energy, environment, & natural resources law school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in energy, environment, & natural resources law, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General | 4,628 |
| Programs for Foreign Lawyers | 1,567 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other | 1,204 |
| American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence | 899 |
| Tax Law/Taxation | 760 |
| Health Law | 539 |
| Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law | 426 |
| International Law and Legal Studies | 414 |
| International Business, Trade, and Tax Law | 337 |
| Human Resources Law | 159 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
