An online master’s in environmental science lets you turn your passion for the planet into a meaningful career — whether that means helping companies reduce their carbon footprints, shaping environmental policy, or teaching the next generation of specialists. Browse our ranking of the best online master’s programs in environmental science, compiled based on factors like cost, flexibility, financial aid, and academic support, to find the right fit for you.
Author: Shannon Lee
Expertise: Graduate Ed.CareersOnline LearningEditor: Kristin Marino
Reviewer: Christina Lampert, MS
Expertise: Env. ScienceSustainabilityGraduate Ed.- Program Spotlights
Diving Into 3 Online Programs in Environmental Science
Read more - Degree Benefits
Benefits of Getting an Online Master's in Environmental Science
Read more - What You'll Learn
What You'll Learn in an Environmental Science Master's Program
Read more - Accreditation
Costs and Financial Aid for Environmental Science
Read more - Salary/Pay
Environmental Science Salary Outlook with a Master's Degree
Read more
Diving Into 3 Online Programs in Environmental Science
As you choose your online master’s environmental science degree program, you will have plenty of options to sort through. To give you a better idea of what to look for in a quality program, we’ve written detailed profiles on colleges with three of the most popular online master’s in environmental science degrees.
University of Illinois Springfield
The University of Illinois Springfield’s Department of Environmental Studies offers a Master of Science in Environmental Science. Students opt to earn their degree through the traditional on-campus program or the 100% online program.
The online path offers tremendous flexibility but doesn’t sacrifice quality. That’s because the curriculum is exactly the same and most courses are taught by the same on-campus faculty.
Another advantage of this program is the ability to choose a concentration. In addition to the General Environmental Science specialization, students can choose Environmental Planning and Management or Sustainable Development and Policy.
To set students up for success both during the program and after graduation, faculty works with each student to develop a specialized educational plan. To graduate, students complete a thesis or graduate project. Multiple scholarships are available.
University of Idaho
Regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the University of Idaho online Master of Science in Environmental Science Degree program is taught by the same world-class faculty that teaches on campus. Like many other programs, this online master’s degree consists of 30 credits.
The curriculum is unique in that it offers three areas of focus: physical science, biological science, or social science. Students take courses in at least two of these option areas.
Students also have flexibility in choosing to complete a thesis or replace it with non-thesis research. The thesis track requires 24 credits of coursework and six credits for the thesis. The non-thesis track requires 27 credits of coursework and three credits of non-thesis research.
Applicants are required to have completed prerequisites in physical, biological, and social sciences plus statistics, pre-calculus (or higher) math, and scientific or technical writing. These may be met automatically based on the applicant’s undergraduate degree. If not, accepted students will need to take these classes before being eligible to take their full option of environmental science coursework.
Oregon State University
Oregon State University offers its Master’s in Environmental Sciences online degree program, which gives applicants the choice of two potential degrees. The Master of Science in Environmental Sciences is tailored to students with an interest in the science industry, but it also provides training to prepare graduates to analyze, understand, and manage issues related to the environment. There is a thesis and non-thesis option for the Master of Science degree.
There’s also a Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Sciences, which modifies the curriculum to provide a hybrid set of classes that include both scientific and business training. The goal is to prepare graduates to serve as a bridge between scientists and policymakers. Students who choose this degree will not complete a thesis. Instead, they will do an internship that allows them to work directly in government, business, or industry. Oregon State University’s Professional Science Master’s degree program is recognized by the National Professional Science Master’s Association.
Benefits of Getting an Online Master’s in Environmental Science
A bachelor’s degree is a great starting point, but earning an online master’s environmental science degree will put you on the cutting edge of science. And with compelling reasons like these, why not take that step?
1. Convenient Learning
You can earn a master’s degree in environmental science fully online. This means no trips to campus or meeting any in-person requirements. It’s perfect for working professionals trying to enhance their career with additional training while still continuing in their current jobs and earning a paycheck.
2. Career Advancement
While a bachelor’s degree in environmental science may be enough for an entry-level position in the environmental industry, those wishing to move up in their current jobs may find that a master’s degree is necessary. Taking on research, management, or policy roles typically will require a graduate degree.
3. Switching Careers
Many more professional options become available when earning a master’s degree, including teaching at the college level. With management, policy, and business classes as part of many programs, graduates will be ready to shift roles from fieldwork or research to policy or business-oriented management jobs.
What You’ll Learn in an Environmental Science Master’s Program
During their master’s education, students take a wide range of classes, from fundamental science and statistics courses to classes in specialized environmental topics like climate change and environmental analysis. There’s also ample opportunity to focus on a concentration. Below is a list of both core and specialized classes you can expect in a typical environmental science master’s program.
Sample Courses
Research Methods in Environmental Science
One of the biggest areas of emphasis in any environmental science master’s program is the development of research skills. This is a core class that instructs students on how to conduct independent and original research. This class is especially helpful when students complete their thesis or research project.
Environmental Natural Sciences
This class offers a basic overview of the subdisciplines that make up environmental science. Students cover topics such as physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and earth sciences. Instruction also includes learning how these topics interact with each other and apply to environmental studies.
Environmental Analysis
This course presents the skills of analytical and critical thinking within environmental science. After completing this class, students are able to not only understand and examine environmental issues but also communicate their ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Science
This course teaches students about web-based geographic information systems (GIS). Students learn how these systems work, including understanding web mapping and theories of map interactions. They’ll also learn about spatial databases and design concept considerations for GIS, especially with mobile devices.
Thesis
This is usually an optional course but gives students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to expand their research skills in the environmental realm. If a student decides to complete a thesis, they will conduct an original research project that contains their findings and conclusions and demonstrates their understanding of what they learned in the master’s in environmental science online program.
Specialization Options
One of the benefits of getting a graduate degree is the opportunity to specialize. The majority of online master’s degree programs in environmental science are set up so that students take a few core classes before choosing a specialization.
These are great opportunities for students to either shift their professional focus or take the next step in their existing area of expertise. The following is a list of just five possible specialization options.
Environmental Planning and Management
This concentration prepares students to focus on the planning, management, and policy roles within environmental science. The curriculum includes classes that teach how environmental regulatory policies work and when they are effective. The curriculum also provides coursework on how to create environmental policies and analyze their effectiveness.
Water Resources
This concentration exists for students who have an interest or background in the natural sciences but want to learn more about water resources and management. Students focus on how water moves within the ecosystems and environments on Earth.
Environmental Education
This concentration is ideal for those who wish to move into a teaching career. The specialization may not meet all of the requirements to become a certified teacher, but it will provide students with the communication, research, and pedagogical skills to teach environmental concepts and assess learning progress.
Sustainable Development and Policy
Many of the environmental struggles the world faces today relate to how humans make use of natural resources. This concentration provides a historical background to human development before shifting into effective concepts for sustainability. Some courses examine how changes to environmental policies and laws can encourage sustainable development.
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most critical challenges the world faces today. This area of specialization allows students to learn more about climate change and its effect on people, animals, and nature. This specialization covers not just the science behind climate change but also the political and business considerations.
Accreditation is the process in which an independent reviewing body confirms that a school or program meets basic levels of educational quality. Accreditation can occur at the institutional level, where an entire school gets accredited from a national or regional accrediting body. There’s also programmatic accreditation, where an individual program gets accredited.
When applying to a master’s in environmental science online program or a master’s in environmental science online program, prospective students should confirm that, at a minimum, the school has institutional accreditation. Most environmental science programs will not be accredited at the programmatic level, but some are.
For example, ABET has the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission, which accredits applied and natural science programs. Then there’s the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, which focuses on accrediting environmental health science programs. To learn more about a school’s accreditation status, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Environmental Science Salary Outlook with a Master’s Degree
A master’s in environmental science prepares you for careers protecting ecosystems, assessing pollution, informing policy, and managing natural resources. Graduates work as environmental scientists, regulatory specialists, sustainability consultants, environmental health analysts, and research scientists — serving government agencies, consulting firms, NGOs, energy companies, and academic institutions. The degree is valued wherever environmental compliance, risk assessment, or conservation work is central to the mission.
Environmental scientists and specialists are well-compensated in government and consulting settings, with federal roles and private sector environmental consulting typically offering the strongest salaries. Earnings grow with specialization and regulatory expertise.
Use the salary table below to explore environmental scientist earnings by state, and see how compensation compares in your area.
Environmental Scientists
| Area | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $82,220 | $107,970 | $140,010 |
| Alabama | $72,490 | $85,350 | $114,900 |
| Alaska | $91,960 | $114,400 | $147,910 |
| Arizona | $80,600 | $103,010 | $160,910 |
| Arkansas | $57,220 | $88,710 | $122,270 |
| California | $106,510 | $132,770 | $161,910 |
| Colorado | $85,990 | $106,690 | $140,340 |
| Connecticut | $82,070 | $107,380 | $130,620 |
| Delaware | $64,690 | $76,990 | $106,060 |
| District of Columbia | $132,620 | $161,470 | $185,220 |
| Florida | $60,830 | $81,600 | $109,290 |
| Georgia | $85,710 | $115,590 | $162,410 |
| Hawaii | $79,510 | $92,620 | $111,700 |
| Idaho | $70,350 | $85,650 | $108,100 |
| Illinois | $81,590 | $121,040 | $153,150 |
| Indiana | $64,700 | $94,910 | $124,380 |
| Iowa | $78,780 | $91,070 | $117,040 |
| Kansas | $78,210 | $106,800 | $136,990 |
| Kentucky | $71,040 | $78,850 | $94,840 |
| Louisiana | $69,820 | $95,430 | $132,810 |
| Maine | $66,480 | $78,060 | $107,100 |
| Maryland | $84,190 | $106,860 | $137,440 |
| Massachusetts | $100,640 | $127,310 | $139,310 |
| Michigan | $76,080 | $94,520 | $111,770 |
| Minnesota | $88,000 | $105,850 | $133,570 |
| Mississippi | $57,780 | $77,600 | $112,260 |
| Missouri | $61,050 | $72,880 | $88,710 |
| Montana | $80,260 | $93,140 | $124,800 |
| Nebraska | $64,040 | $79,970 | $101,190 |
| Nevada | $83,050 | $105,530 | $138,740 |
| New Hampshire | $80,810 | $100,170 | $111,840 |
| New Jersey | $79,210 | $102,440 | $130,590 |
| New Mexico | $86,630 | $104,250 | $129,080 |
| New York | $82,160 | $104,310 | $139,490 |
| North Carolina | $74,130 | $93,990 | $125,930 |
| North Dakota | $84,570 | $92,340 | $109,300 |
| Ohio | $78,540 | $95,120 | $109,490 |
| Oklahoma | $75,910 | $89,670 | $119,150 |
| Oregon | $97,440 | $113,320 | $132,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,110 | $95,910 | $125,520 |
| Rhode Island | $100,730 | $123,180 | $139,050 |
| South Carolina | $74,910 | $100,320 | $133,470 |
| South Dakota | $68,230 | $79,880 | $97,060 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 | $99,200 | $133,180 |
| Texas | $92,000 | $128,380 | $163,110 |
| Utah | $90,710 | $124,990 | $149,990 |
| Vermont | $77,460 | $97,430 | $111,700 |
| Virginia | $82,230 | $102,750 | $135,580 |
| Washington | $98,300 | $127,770 | $153,960 |
| West Virginia | $82,100 | $102,420 | $119,020 |
| Wisconsin | $72,820 | $86,610 | $104,360 |
| Wyoming | $74,050 | $85,020 | $100,670 |
Source: BLS, OEWS, May 2025
Showing 1 – 10 of 52 entries | Data reflects national numbers, not school-specific information.
Costs and Financial Aid for Environmental Science
Earning a master’s in environmental science online will open doors to careers that involve working with the natural world, but it will take some time and money to get there. Before enrolling in a program, figure out how much it’ll cost and what arrangements you can make to help pay for it.
Luckily, there are plenty of public loans, scholarships, and grants available for your schooling. There may also be other sources of funding, such as fellowships or tuition reimbursement offered by your employer. To learn more about these and other financial aid opportunities, check out our financial aid page.
What Your Online Master’s in Environmental Science Could Cost
| Program | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Florida | 30 | $385 | $11,538 |
| Unity College | 30 | $550 | $16,500 |
| Montana State University | 30 | $495 (in-state) $1535 (out-of-state) | $14,850 (in-state) $46,050 (out-of-state) |
Q&A with an Online Environmental Studies Student
You’re pursuing a degree in an environmental-related field. Are there hands-on experiences you’re using to supplement your online learning?
Yes! At Columbia University we have a program called Net Impact, which is a club for pro-bono consulting. This consulting work focuses specifically on sustainability and impact. I, alongside of a team, participated last semester consulting for a fashion brand to calculate their carbon footprint comparison and market that to consumers. It really helped me apply a real-life business situation to my sustainability studies.
What was the biggest challenge for you when it came to online learning?
The biggest challenge was naturally meeting people. You don’t realize how easy it is to make friends in person when you no longer have the luxury of small talk waiting for class to begin or walking out together! I definitely took that for granted during undergrad.
I’ve since learned to proactively set up Zoom chats with people outside of class. It’s certainly helped!
On the flipside, what was the best part of online learning for you? What advantages did you enjoy?
I loved the flexibility of being able to take classes wherever. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel the pressure of making life choices with regard to moving or staying in one place due to a commitment such as graduate school. It’s allowed me to be able to try living in Arizona to see if I want to long term. If school wasn’t virtual, I wouldn’t be able to do this.
What advice would you give someone who is considering an online degree in a field related to environmental science?
I think the field is growing exponentially and there is so much demand for this kind of expertise inside of corporations. When you look at applications for respective jobs, there are specific skills needed that generations were not taught during undergraduate curriculums. Therefore, the Masters and higher-level learning is so imperative to be considered in this field to actually enable positive environmental change.
What do you wish you had known about online learning, especially at the master’s level, before you started the program?
I was unsure as to whether or not I would be able to handle the coursework. I decided to take five courses my first semester which is one more than the normal, full time graduate student. What I’ve found, however, is that there is barely any memorization, which was always my downfall. I learn best by doing, and practicing, and that is what graduate school is all about.
Therefore the coursework was right up my alley. Rather than being bogged down with all of the assignments, I felt super engaged since most of them were all about practicing the skills and developing the respective work
Anything else you’d like to add about earning the master’s in environmental science or a related field?
It is such a great field to study. You’ll find that a lot of the people you are studying with have so much heart, given the purpose of study. I think it’s different from studying something like Accounting or Finance where your passion can be abstract, or not really even in it. Environmental students can always come together on one thing – caring about the Earth in an altruistic manner.