Best Online Master’s in Environmental Sciences

Find top-ranked online master’s in environmental sciences degree programs to help students learn how to address real and current environmental issues during their studies while taking courses that discuss topics like conservation, environmental law, and environmental biogeochemistry.

Top 10 Online Environmental Sciences Master's Degrees

Johns Hopkins University
University of Oklahoma
Duke University
University of Arizona
University of Missouri
Mississippi State University
Virginia Tech
University of Alabama
North Carolina State University
University of Connecticut

Johns Hopkins University
Duke University
University of Arizona
University of Missouri
University of Alabama
University of Kentucky
University of Connecticut
University of Oklahoma
Virginia Tech
North Carolina State University

Western Kentucky University 94%
University of Kentucky 93%
Michigan Technological University 92%
Old Dominion University 90%
Sam Houston State University 90%
University of Alabama at Birmingham 88%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 87%
University of Arizona 86%
Montana State University 82%
Loyola University Chicago 82%

University of Central Florida 29 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1
University of Arizona 19 to 1
University of Alabama 19 to 1
Missouri University of Science and Technology 19 to 1
Western Kentucky University 18 to 1
Montana State University 18 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 18 to 1

Duke University $72,795
Johns Hopkins University $67,170
Worcester Polytechnic Institute $63,246
Rochester Institute of Technology $61,804
University of the Pacific $58,844
Loyola University Chicago $56,060
Nova Southeastern University $40,360
Tuskegee University $25,598
University of Connecticut $21,334
Michigan Technological University $19,982

Johns Hopkins University $62,840
Duke University $62,620
Rochester Institute of Technology $56,884
University of the Pacific $52,924
Worcester Polytechnic Institute $28,980
Michigan Technological University $24,669
Nova Southeastern University $22,890
Loyola University Chicago $21,375
Tuskegee University $20,378
University of Connecticut $18,834

Missouri University of Science and Technology
Sam Houston State University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
Loyola University Chicago
Tuskegee University
Montana State University
Nova Southeastern University
University of the Pacific
Old Dominion University

Western Kentucky University
Nova Southeastern University
Sam Houston State University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Michigan Technological University
Montana State University
Old Dominion University
University of Idaho
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology

Duke University 6%
Johns Hopkins University 6%
University of Central Florida 40%
North Carolina State University 42%
Tuskegee University 49%
University of Connecticut 52%
Florida International University 55%
Virginia Tech 55%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 60%
Rochester Institute of Technology 67%

Johns Hopkins University 6 to 1
Duke University 6 to 1
Tuskegee University 12 to 1
Michigan Technological University 13 to 1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13 to 1
Loyola University Chicago 13 to 1
Rochester Institute of Technology 13 to 1
University of the Pacific 14 to 1
Old Dominion University 15 to 1
North Carolina State University 15 to 1

University of Central Florida $6,368
Florida International University $6,565
North Carolina State University $8,815
Montana State University $8,948
Sam Houston State University $9,228
University of Idaho $9,400
University of Alabama at Birmingham $9,812
University of Oklahoma $10,181
University of Arkansas $10,496
Mississippi State University $10,604

Montana State University $5,451
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,318
University of Central Florida $6,916
University of Idaho $8,272
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,424
University of Oklahoma $8,903
Florida International University $9,119
North Carolina State University $9,459
University of Memphis $9,576

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Environmental Sciences Degrees

This degree is targeted toward working professionals who want to further research the impact of environmental science in areas like policy, alternative energies, soil science, and public health. Students can earn their master’s degree in environmental sciences either online or in person over the course of two to three years.

Most degree programs require about 30-45 credits, several of which will likely be dedicated to completing a thesis.

Students will learn how to address real and current environmental issues during their studies while taking courses that discuss topics like conservation, environmental law, and environmental biogeochemistry.

Upon graduation, students may be ready for leadership positions in their current organizations or for jobs like land surveyors, hydrologists, geoscientists, and environmental consultants.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s degree in earth sciences.

How do we determine the best online environmental sciences master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Master’s in Environmental Sciences Degree Programs

Not sure if an online master’s in environmental science is for you? Check out our rankings for online master’s in higher education, nursing education, or agribusiness!

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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Best Online Master’s in Environmental Sciences

Top 10 Online Environmental Sciences Master's Degrees

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Environmental Sciences Degrees

Why get a master’s in environmental sciences?

How long does it take to get a master’s in environmental sciences?

What will I learn while getting a master’s in environmental sciences?

What can I do with a master’s in environmental sciences?

Best Online Master’s in Environmental Sciences Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Johns Hopkins University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Oklahoma

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Duke University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Missouri

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Mississippi State University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Virginia Tech

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Alabama

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at North Carolina State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Connecticut

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Michigan Technological University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Kentucky

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Arkansas

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Memphis

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Idaho

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Western Kentucky University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Old Dominion University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at University of the Pacific

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Nova Southeastern University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Montana State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Tuskegee University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Loyola University Chicago

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Rochester Institute of Technology

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Environmental Science degree at Sam Houston State University

Online Degrees