Ecology 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools to find the best for ecology students.
The ecology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Ecology 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 Ecology Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Columbia University In The City Of New York the best school in the country for a degree in ecology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $76,132. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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A rank of #2 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top schools for ecology. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 ecology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $58,088 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 10 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $60,523 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
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University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 26 ecology degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Ecology graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in ecology from University Of Florida
Students looking for a strong ecology program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #5. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 77 ecology degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Ecology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $36,375 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,635 to complete this degree.
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New York University landed the #6 spot for ecology this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 ecology students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Ecology graduates of New York University earn a median of $41,024 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #7 for ecology this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 28 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $18,728 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,417.
Read more about the ecology program at University Of California Los Angeles
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #8 position for ecology this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates 66% of students within six years. About 27 ecology degrees were awarded at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $48,193 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #9 for ecology this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 37 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $49,410 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
More information about a degree in ecology from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Connecticut College came in at #10 for ecology this year. Set in the city of New London, Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 23 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Connecticut College in the most recent data year. Ecology graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,979 to complete this degree.
Read more about the ecology program at Connecticut College
Stony Brook University landed the #11 spot for ecology this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 10 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Ecology graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $22,725 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of California Davis earned the #12 position for ecology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 33 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,161. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $19,951 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 76 ecology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $25,724. Students borrow a median of $15,977 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in ecology from University Of Georgia
University Of Denver placed #14 among the best ecology schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 ecology degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology degree from University Of Denver earn around $56,999 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534.
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University Of Wyoming placed #15 among the best ecology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Laramie. University Of Wyoming graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 ecology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $49,890. Typical student debt for the program is $20,283.
More information about a degree in ecology from University Of Wyoming
Saint Vincent College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 11 ecology degrees were awarded at Saint Vincent College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology degree recipients from Saint Vincent College generally make around $54,916. Saint Vincent College graduates carry a median of $26,986 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 41 ecology degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Ecology graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $32,882 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,798.
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Towson University landed the #18 spot for ecology this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology degree from Towson University earn around $50,370 in the first couple years of their career. Towson University graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans.
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Michigan Technological University landed the #19 spot for ecology this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 11 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $64,652 in their early career. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans.
More information about a degree in ecology from Michigan Technological University
University Of North Texas earned the #20 position for ecology this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 54 ecology degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology degree from University Of North Texas earn around $28,681 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in ecology from University Of North Texas
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best ecology schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 105 ecology degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Ecology graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $40,352 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,461.
See the full ecology program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Iowa State University earned the #22 position for ecology this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 79 ecology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology degree from Iowa State University earn around $29,842 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,347 in student loans.
More information about a degree in ecology from Iowa State University
Utah State University landed the #23 spot for ecology this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Utah State University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Utah State University in the most recent data year. Ecology graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,191.
Read more about the ecology program at Utah State University
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #24 spot for ecology this year. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 11 ecology degrees were awarded at Northwest Nazarene University in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology degree from Northwest Nazarene University earn around $50,330 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,562 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Plattsburgh placed #25 among the best ecology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Plattsburgh. Suny College At Plattsburgh graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 ecology students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Plattsburgh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology program make about $23,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,217 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 28 Ecology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong ecology education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 28 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).
