by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 21 U.S. colleges awarded 255 degrees and certificates in Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 100% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing, rising to $107,082 after four years.
A degree in Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law explores Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law. An Advanced, Professional Study Of The Law, Policies, And Regulations Governing The Energy Industry, Environmental Protection, Natural Resources And Land Use, And Related Topics. Examples: [Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law (Ll.m., M.s.)], [Energy, Environment, And Natural Resources Law (J.s.d./s.j.d.)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, energy, environment, & natural resources law is a popular field of study, with 255 degrees awarded annually. 21 colleges award energy, environment, & natural resources law degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 79.
By level, the 255 awards include 254 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 59% of energy, environment, & natural resources law degrees and certificates in the latest year (150 of 255). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (118) and Hispanic or Latino (18), and international students earned 43.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law Schools ranking, including 8 for master’s degrees. In all, 21 colleges offer energy, environment, & natural resources law programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common energy, environment, & natural resources law credential is the master’s degree: 254 of the 255 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to energy, environment, & natural resources law call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Law and Government, English Language 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 energy, environment, & natural resources law degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 254 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
First professional degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to energy, environment, & natural resources law, at 43.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law, with an average median salary of $82,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Lawyers, at 2.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, College Faculty Member, Law Professor and Instructor.
The occupation related to energy, environment, & natural resources law with the most projected jobs is Law Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,017,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law graduates earn a median $78,306 one year after completing their program, $107,082 after four years and $107,285 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $107,082 |
| 5 years | $107,285 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to energy, environment, & natural resources law, with a median salary of $91,726.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources Law has 19 similar majors in the Legal Professions field, which together award 11,923 degrees a year; the largest are Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General (5,066), Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other (1,551) and Programs for Foreign Lawyers (1,380). Browse all Legal Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General | 5,066 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other | 1,551 |
| Programs for Foreign Lawyers | 1,380 |
| American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence | 959 |
| Tax Law/Taxation | 749 |
| Health Law | 450 |
| International Law and Legal Studies | 388 |
| Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law | 353 |
| International Business, Trade, and Tax Law | 316 |
| Human Resources Law | 235 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
