by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Environmental Geosciences explores A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Environmental Implications Of Geological Processes And Human Activities On Earth. Includes Instruction In Environmental/natural Resource Management, Geographic Information Systems (Gis), Geology, Hydrology, Regulatory Agency Compliance, Hazard Identification And Mitigation, Environmental Law, Environmental Policy, And Sustainability Studies. Read on to learn the key facts every environmental geosciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental geosciences programs.
Nationwide, environmental geosciences is a widely-pursued major, with 96 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental Geosciences Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental geosciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental geosciences programs later in this article.
Studies in Environmental Geosciences emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental geosciences graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a environmental geosciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a environmental geosciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental geosciences 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 | 86 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental geosciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.4% |
| Master’s degree | 15.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental geosciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in environmental geosciences can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to environmental geosciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental geosciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 373,276 | 14.4% |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | 370,977 | 3.7% |
Salaries for environmental geosciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental geosciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Hydrologists | $96,513 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | $85,399 |
With 10 different environmental geosciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental geosciences school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
