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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Sustainability Science Master’s Degree Schools

36 Colleges in the United States
1,714 Sustainability Science Degrees Awarded
$60,342 Avg Early-Career Salary

Sustainability Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 278 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sustainability science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Sustainability Science in the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in sustainability science, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Sustainability Science

1

No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for sustainability science. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 71 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $75,703 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree. Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of California Berkeley

2

Northwestern University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 46 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Read more about the sustainability science program at Northwestern University

3
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for sustainability science. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 37 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability science program report for Stanford University

4

A rank of #4 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for sustainability science. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 273 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,469 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,070. More information about a degree in sustainability science from Columbia University In The City Of New York

5

Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 53 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005. More information about a degree in sustainability science from Cornell University

6

University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #6 for sustainability science this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 10 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. See the full sustainability science program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus

7

Carnegie Mellon University came in at #7 for sustainability science this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 18 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Read more about the sustainability science program at Carnegie Mellon University

8
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot for sustainability science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 18 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Get the full sustainability science details for Michigan State University

9

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for sustainability science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 13 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053. See the full sustainability science program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

10

Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for sustainability science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $65,944 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree. Read more about the sustainability science program at Rutgers University New Brunswick

11

University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #11 position for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,234. Get the full sustainability science details for University Of Massachusetts Amherst

12

Johns Hopkins University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 24 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $84,850. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426. More information about a degree in sustainability science from Johns Hopkins University

13
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 44 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $79,632 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Read more about the sustainability science program at Georgetown University

14
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University came in at #14 for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 182 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full sustainability science details for Harvard University

15
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University came in at #15 for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree. Read more about the sustainability science program at Wake Forest University

16

Iowa State University placed #16 among the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 10 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Iowa State University earn around $53,900 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete this degree. Read more about the sustainability science program at Iowa State University

17
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

University Of Miami placed #17 among the best sustainability science schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 17 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Miami earn around $57,234 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of Miami

18

Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for sustainability science this year. Set in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $87,055. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans. Read more about the sustainability science program at Stevens Institute Of Technology

19
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University placed #19 among the best sustainability science schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 15 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability science program report for Tufts University

20

University Of Denver ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. About 10 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Denver earn around $56,999 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability science program report for University Of Denver

21

Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #21 spot for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability science program report for Illinois Institute Of Technology

22

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 67 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $60,568. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

23

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #23 among the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 13 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $56,395 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree. Get the full sustainability science details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

24
University Of Vermont crest
University Of Vermont
Burlington, VT

University Of Vermont came in at #24 for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. University Of Vermont graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Vermont earn around $44,588 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,607 to complete this degree. Get the full sustainability science details for University Of Vermont

25

Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #25 among the best sustainability science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 11 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Typical student debt for the program is $27,491. Read more about the sustainability science program at Rochester Institute Of Technology

Rest of the Top 50 Sustainability Science Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong sustainability science education:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY
37
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
38
39
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY
40
41
42
Pratt Institute Main crest
Pratt Institute Main
Brooklyn, NY
43
44
45
46
Unity College crest
Unity College
New Gloucester, ME
47
48
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
49
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
50
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Other Sustainability Science Degree Levels

Explore the best sustainability science schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Sustainability Science
Associate's Degrees in Sustainability Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Sustainability Science
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View All Sustainability Science Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 278 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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