Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies

BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Published: Jul 1, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in green technologies degree programs to equipped students to hold managerial and supervisory positions in the consulting, marketing, finance, engineering, government, nonprofit, and technology fields.

Top 10 Online Master's in Sustainability & Green Technologies Degrees

Johns Hopkins University
University of Southern California
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
University of Kentucky
University of Vermont
Northeastern University
Clemson University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Prescott College 99%
Sam Houston State University 97%
Maharishi International University 95%
University of Kentucky 94%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 91%
Montclair State University 91%
Unity Environmental University 91%
University of Alabama at Birmingham 89%
Arizona State University 88%
St. Mary's University, Texas 88%

Sam Houston State University 21 to 1
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University 20 to 1
University of Alabama at Birmingham 20 to 1
Arizona State University 18 to 1
Montclair State University 18 to 1
University of Kentucky 16 to 1
Clemson University 16 to 1
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 16 to 1
University of Vermont 16 to 1
Unity Environmental University 15 to 1

University of Southern California $61,503
Johns Hopkins University $58,720
Northeastern University $57,592
Lenoir–Rhyne University $41,500
Lipscomb University $35,752
Prescott College $34,701
St. Mary's University, Texas $34,564
Boston Architectural College $22,144
Michigan Technological University $17,903
Maharishi International University $16,530

University of Southern California $60,446
Johns Hopkins University $58,720
Maharishi International University $32,000
Northeastern University $25,801
Boston Architectural College $25,220
Michigan Technological University $22,725
St. Mary's University, Texas $18,684
Lipscomb University $17,100
Prescott College $14,880
Montclair State University $12,978

Unity Environmental University
Lenoir–Rhyne University
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Boston Architectural College
Prescott College
Lipscomb University
Maharishi International University
St. Mary's University, Texas
Montclair State University
Sam Houston State University

Johns Hopkins University 8%
University of Southern California 13%
Northeastern University 18%
Clemson University 49%
University of Vermont 64%
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University 70%
Lipscomb University 74%
Lenoir–Rhyne University 86%
Michigan Technological University 86%
University of Arizona 87%

Boston Architectural College 5 to 1
Johns Hopkins University 6 to 1
University of Southern California 9 to 1
Prescott College 9 to 1
St. Mary's University, Texas 12 to 1
Maharishi International University 12 to 1
Lenoir–Rhyne University 13 to 1
Michigan Technological University 13 to 1
Northeastern University 14 to 1
Lipscomb University 14 to 1

University of North Carolina at Greensboro $4,422
Sam Houston State University $5,856
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,568
Arizona State University $10,710
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University $10,748
University of Arizona $10,990
University of Kentucky $11,247
Montclair State University $12,323
Unity Environmental University $12,640
Clemson University $14,118

University of North Carolina at Greensboro $5,219
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Alabama at Birmingham $8,100
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University $8,916
Unity Environmental University $9,750
Clemson University $10,600
Arizona State University $11,720
Lenoir–Rhyne University $12,060
University of Arizona $12,106
University of Vermont $12,294

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainability and Green Technology Degrees

With more and more industries moving toward environmentally friendly products and technologies, earning a master’s in green technologies could advance your career in the fast-growing renewable energy and sustainability sectors.

This graduate degree will immerse you in current environmental topics, such as sustainable construction, transportation and the environment, renewable energy engineering, energy policies, and sustainable product design. Many programs also have field-based learning, where students will gain hands-on knowledge related to their specialty.

Credit hours can vary for this graduate degree, ranging from 27 to 57. Programs are available both online and on campus. Many programs also have field-based learning, where students will gain hands-on knowledge related to their specialty.

After completing the program, graduates will be equipped to hold managerial and supervisory positions in the consulting, marketing, finance, engineering, government, nonprofit, and technology fields.

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

How do we determine the best online green technologies 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.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

81240Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

89130Chemists

94780Hydrologists

103550Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

104790Materials Scientists

Best Online Master’s in Green Technologies Degree Programs

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.

Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies

Top 10 Online Master's in Sustainability & Green Technologies Degrees

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainability and Green Technology Degrees

Why get a master’s in green technologies?

What will I learn while getting a master’s in green technologies?

How many credits are needed to get a master’s in green technologies?

What can I do with a master’s in green technologies?

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

Best Online Master’s in Green Technologies Degree Programs

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Prospective Grad Students