by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Environmental Psychology explores Environmental Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Behavioral Interactions Between Human Beings And The Environment In Individual And Group Contexts, And Ways To Improve Them. Includes Instruction In Contextual Theory; Statistics; Physiological, Social, And Psychological Responses To Natural And Technological Hazards And Disease; Environmental Perception And Cognition; Loneliness And Stress; And Psychological Aspects Of Environmental Design And Planning. Read on to learn the important information every environmental psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental psychology programs.
In the U.S., environmental psychology is a popular field of study, with 11 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental psychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Environmental Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a environmental psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a environmental psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental psychology 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 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in environmental psychology prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to environmental psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of environmental psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for environmental psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
With 3 different environmental psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in environmental psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
