Sustainability Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 278 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best sustainability studies schools.
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Choosing a Great Sustainability Studies School
The school you choose for sustainability studies can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Sustainability Studies rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Sustainability Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for sustainability studies. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 71 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $75,703. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
Get the full sustainability studies details for University Of California Berkeley
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 80 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong sustainability studies program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 46 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong sustainability studies program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #4. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Get the full sustainability studies details for Stanford University
Students looking for a strong sustainability studies program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 153 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Get the full sustainability studies details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Cornell University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $75,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Get the full sustainability studies details for Cornell University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #7 spot for sustainability studies this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 21 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #8 position for sustainability studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 327 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $70,213 in their early career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $18,070 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 10 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 18 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Get the full sustainability studies details for Carnegie Mellon University
Harvard University earned the #11 position for sustainability studies this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 379 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $95,207 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at Harvard University
Vanderbilt University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 12 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $77,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Get the full sustainability studies details for Vanderbilt University
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #13 for sustainability studies this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $65,944 in their early career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Barnard College placed #14 among the best sustainability studies schools. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Barnard College earn around $50,790 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $17,609 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at Barnard College
Johns Hopkins University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 24 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Johns Hopkins University
Georgetown University came in at #16 for sustainability studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 44 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Georgetown University earn around $79,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Georgetown University
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #17 position for sustainability studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 122 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $35,255 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,636.
Get the full sustainability studies details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Wake Forest University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. 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. Wake Forest University awarded about 16 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $67,369 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at Wake Forest University
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #19 position for sustainability studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 48 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Georgia placed #20 among the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $49,789 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,033 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Georgia
Furman University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. About 79% of students finish within six years. Furman University awarded about 14 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability studies from Furman University
University Of Miami ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 17 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at University Of Miami
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #23 for sustainability studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $87,055. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete this degree.
Get the full sustainability studies details for Stevens Institute Of Technology
Tufts University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $68,154 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability studies program at Tufts University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 66% of students finish within six years. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 14 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $67,909 in their early career. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Rest of the Top 50 Sustainability Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong sustainability studies education:
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Sustainability Studies is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 278 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).