Our natural resources have been in the news a lot recently, and for good reason. From fossil fuel drilling and transport to global warming to public wilderness ownership to carbon emissions, our use and abuse of the natural environment are hot topics.
If these things are important to you and you happen to have a knack for science, you're in luck! A career as an environmental scientist, the professionals tasked with diagnosing and remedying environmental problems, could be a good fit if you're willing to put forth the effort to complete an online master's degree in environmental science.
Accredited Online College Programs
Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.
What kind of online master's in environmental science degree should you get?
Graduate programs in environmental science can be terminal master's programs or doctoral programs. Programs will also feature varying emphases, for instance, in marine biology, forestry, geology, or chemistry.
Most programs require extensive field world and empirical research and involve extensive competency in data and data analytics. A strong background in the hard sciences will be beneficial and in some cases required. For more information on online education, see our Best Online Colleges and Universities ranking.
How much money do people make with an online master's in environmental science degree?
Compensation will vary according to what exactly you intend to do with your degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary from an environmental scientist was $63,570, and the role is projected to grow between now and 2022.
The environment faces a growing number of threats, and that will require an increasing number of professionals trained to address the problems.
What can you do with an online master's degree in environmental science?
Environmental science is not limited to the role of environmental scientist, however. That is certainly an option, but graduates can also pursue careers and geologists, chemists, natural resource managers, game wardens, wildlife and fisheries experts, and more.
Each program on our list offers different areas of specialization, so be sure to research each one to discern which ones match your interests.
What are the requirements for an online master's in environmental science degree?
Ordinarily students applying to graduate programs in environmental science will need to hold a bachelor of science degree in one of the hard sciences or in environmental or a related science.
Beyond these general requirements, some schools will have minimum GPA requirements as well as advanced coursework prerequisites. Some programs will allow conditional admission for students from other disciplines, so be sure to check with the school.
What are the best online master's in environmental science degrees?
We've compiled a list of the best online master's in environmental science degrees with you and your needs in mind. Here's how we did it.
First, we located the best programs in the country by taking an objective look at the best schools in the country as measured by reputation and return on investment. Then we looked at the bottom line—how much does it cost? We combined these factors to reach our College Choice Score, which determined where each school fits into the big scheme of things.
Our data for this ranking was drawn from a variety of public sources, such as U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, PayScale.com, and the U.S. Census. The end result is a list of schools that not only represent the best education you can get and a good return on investment but also one that will fit your budget.
Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
