2026 Best Sustainability Science Schools in California
Sustainability Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sustainability science programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for sustainability science students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Sustainability Science in California
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.
Top Schools in Sustainability Science
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 71 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $75,703 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans.
Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for sustainability science. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 37 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Stanford University
University Of California Riverside is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability science, ranking #3. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. University Of California Riverside awarded about 25 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $30,698 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,045 to complete this degree.
Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of California Riverside
Presidio Graduate School is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability science, ranking #4. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of San Anselmo. About 42 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Presidio Graduate School in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Presidio Graduate School generally make around $82,953.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Presidio Graduate School
More Sustainability Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
