Best Schools for Sustainability Studies in the United States
See the highest-ranked sustainability studies schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Sustainability Studies
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best sustainability studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 71 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $75,703 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 46 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability studies, ranking #3. 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 37 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Stanford University
Columbia University In The City Of New York is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability studies, ranking #4. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 273 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,469. Students borrow a median of $18,070 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. 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 53 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $75,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 10 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #7 among the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 18 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
See the full sustainability studies program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Michigan State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 18 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sustainability studies from Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #10 spot for sustainability studies 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 66 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $65,944. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #11 among the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 14 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #12 position for sustainability studies this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. About 94% of students finish within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 24 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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Georgetown University earned the #13 position for sustainability studies this year. 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 44 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #14 among the best sustainability studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 182 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University placed #15 among the best sustainability studies schools. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $67,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University landed the #16 spot for sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 10 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $53,900 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans.
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University Of Miami ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. About 17 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Miami
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #18 among the best sustainability studies schools. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 11 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Stevens Institute Of Technology earn around $87,055 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University came in at #19 for sustainability studies this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $68,154 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
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University Of Denver landed the #20 spot for sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 10 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Denver earn around $56,999 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $71,315 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #22 among the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $60,568. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #23 among the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 13 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Vermont landed the #24 spot for sustainability studies this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. University Of Vermont graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $44,588. Typical student debt for the program is $22,607.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #25 position for sustainability studies this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sustainability studies from Rochester Institute Of Technology
Rest of the Top 50 Sustainability Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for sustainability studies this year:
Other Sustainability Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best sustainability studies schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 278 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.
