Environmental Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Interdisciplinary study of the environment and solutions to environmental problems.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$72K
salary
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
5%
rate
Environmental Science Overview
Interdisciplinary study of the environment and solutions to environmental problems.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
60%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
30%
Lifetime Premium
$350K
Female Graduates
55%
Environmental Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$17,550
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$17,550
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$332,450
Lifetime earnings premium ($350,000) minus net degree cost ($17,550)
Environmental Science Salary Progression
Common Environmental Science Careers
Environmental Scientist
Conservation Specialist
Sustainability Analyst
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Environmental Science
#1
Stanford
#2
UC Berkeley
#3
Yale
#4
Cornell
#5
University of Michigan
Related Majors
Environmental Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Environmental Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for environmental science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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