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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Sustainability Studies Schools in California

3 Colleges in the United States
175 Sustainability Studies Degrees Awarded
$72,545 Avg Early-Career Salary

Sustainability Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sustainability studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Sustainability Studies in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sustainability studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Sustainability Studies

1

University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best sustainability studies schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 71 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies 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. See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of California Berkeley

2
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Students looking for a strong sustainability studies program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stanford University awarded about 37 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in sustainability studies from Stanford University

3

University Of California Riverside is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability studies, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $30,698. University Of California Riverside graduates carry a median of $20,045 in student loans. More information about a degree in sustainability studies from University Of California Riverside

4
Presidio Graduate School crest
Presidio Graduate School
San Anselmo, CA

Presidio Graduate School is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability studies, ranking #4. Presidio Graduate School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of San Anselmo. About 42 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Presidio Graduate School in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Presidio Graduate School earn around $82,953 in the first couple years of their career. See the full sustainability studies program report for Presidio Graduate School

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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