by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 88 U.S. colleges awarded 1,309 degrees and certificates in Environmental Health. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental Health Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing, rising to $70,680 after four years.
A degree in Environmental Health covers Environmental Health. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Environmental Sciences, Public Health, The Biomedical Sciences, And Environmental Toxicology To The Study Of Environmental Factors Affecting Human Health, Safety, And Related Ecological Issues, And Prepares Individuals To Function As Professional Environmental Health Specialists. Includes Instruction In Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Toxicology, Public Policy Analysis, Public Management, Risk Assessment, Communications, Environmental Law, Occupational Health And Safety Emergency Response, And Applications Such As Air Quality, Food Protection, Radiation Protection, Solid And Hazardous Waste Management, Water Quality, Soil Quality, Noise Abatement, Housing Quality, And Environmental Control Of Recreational Areas.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, environmental health is a popular field of study, with 1,309 degrees awarded annually. 88 colleges award environmental health degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 114.
By level, the 1,309 awards include 18 associate degrees, 313 bachelor’s degrees, 893 master’s degrees and 74 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of environmental health degrees and certificates in the latest year (867 of 1,309). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (549) and Asian (152), and international students earned 259.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental Health Schools ranking, including 21 for bachelor’s degrees, 28 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks environmental health schools within 21 states. In all, 88 colleges offer environmental health programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Environmental Health Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common environmental health credential is the master’s degree: 893 of the 1,309 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to environmental health call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an environmental health degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 313 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 893 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 74 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to environmental health, at 39.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 14.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Environmental Health, with an average median salary of $75,677; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dental Hygiene Teacher, Obstetrics Teacher, Hospital Aides and Assistants Teacher and Veterinary Science Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to environmental health, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Industrial Ecologists | 136,627 | 8.5% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | 98,537 | 4.3% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 72,502 | 2.7% |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 67,440 | 3.6% |
Environmental Health graduates earn a median $51,160 one year after completing their program, $70,680 after four years and $71,212 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,160 |
| 4 years | $70,680 |
| 5 years | $71,212 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to environmental health is Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $111,314.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $105,544 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
| Environmental Restoration Planners | $61,737 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $48,647 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Environmental Health has 11 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 40,424 degrees a year; the largest are Public Health, General (24,834), Public Health Education and Promotion (3,767) and Community Health and Preventive Medicine (3,539). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health, General | 24,834 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 3,767 |
| Community Health and Preventive Medicine | 3,539 |
| Public Health, Other | 2,750 |
| Health Services Administration | 2,283 |
| International Public Health/International Health | 1,529 |
| Behavioral Aspects of Health | 759 |
| Health/Medical Physics | 334 |
| Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | 300 |
| Maternal and Child Health | 225 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
