Sustainability Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 91 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best sustainability science schools.
The sustainability science program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Sustainability Science Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Sustainability Science Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Best Schools for Sustainability Science in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the sustainability science degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of California Berkeley this year for sustainability science. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $75,703. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
See the full sustainability science program report for University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for sustainability science. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 49 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $78,551 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full sustainability science program report for Northwestern University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #3 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $60,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
Get the full sustainability science details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 23 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full sustainability science program report for Stanford University
Students looking for a strong sustainability science program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #5. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 56 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
See the full sustainability science program report for Cornell University
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Maryland College Park
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #7 spot for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 207 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #8 spot for sustainability science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 367 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $70,213 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,070 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #9 for sustainability science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 15 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full sustainability science program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Barnard College came in at #10 for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. Barnard College awarded about 13 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Barnard College earn around $50,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,609.
See the full sustainability science program report for Barnard College
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 13 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
See the full sustainability science program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Johns Hopkins University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 22 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Johns Hopkins University
Harvard University came in at #13 for sustainability science this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 422 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability science program report for Harvard University
Georgetown University placed #14 among the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Georgetown University
Michigan Technological University earned the #15 position for sustainability science this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 30 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Michigan Technological University
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #16 among the best sustainability science schools. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $87,055. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Stevens Institute Of Technology
Vanderbilt University placed #17 among the best sustainability science schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Get the full sustainability science details for Vanderbilt University
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #18 for sustainability science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 47 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $65,944. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
See the full sustainability science program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Iowa State University placed #19 among the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 16 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $54,204 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Iowa State University
University Of Southern California landed the #20 spot for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Southern California
University Of Miami earned the #21 position for sustainability science this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 24 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $57,234 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full sustainability science details for University Of Miami
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #22 among the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 32 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Colorado State University Fort Collins earn around $51,693 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,843.
See the full sustainability science program report for Colorado State University Fort Collins
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #23 among the best sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 46 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Ohio State University Main Campus
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #24 spot for sustainability science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 20 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $71,315 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
Get the full sustainability science details for Illinois Institute Of Technology
University Of Georgia ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 76 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Georgia earn around $49,789 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $20,033 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of Georgia
Rest of the Top 50 Sustainability Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong sustainability science education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 91 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).
