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Environmental assistant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental assistant. Environmental assistants usually study environmental science, business, or biology. 48% of environmental assistants hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 963 real environmental assistant resumes to see exactly what environmental assistant education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental assistants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online environmental assistant courses to help get the education required to be an environmental assistant.
There are certain environmental assistant certifications that you should consider. These environmental assistant certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Environmental Professional: Environmental Operations.
What education do you need to become an environmental assistant?
What degree do you need to be an environmental assistant?
- Bachelor's, 48%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become an environmental assistant?
Most common colleges for environmental assistants
| Environmental assistant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 13.89% |
| New Mexico State University | 9.72% |
| Texas State University | 6.94% |
| University of Denver | 6.94% |
| University of Iowa | 5.56% |
Best majors for environmental assistants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Science | 21.3% |
| 2 | Business | 14.8% |
| 3 | Biology | 11.7% |
| 4 | Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 5.8% |
| 5 | General Studies | 5.2% |
Best colleges for environmental assistants
The best colleges for environmental assistants are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
An environmental assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for environmental assistants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become environmental assistants.
1. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
9. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,912
Enrollment
14,245
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
20 best online courses for environmental assistants
Advertising disclosure
1. Human Health Risks, Health Equity, and Environmental Justice
The fourth and final course of the Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health specialization will cover two topics. The first is environmental justice – that is, avoiding an inequitable distribution of environmental health threats in our population, and ensuring a healthy and safe environment and health equity for all. The second is risk assessment and management, a framework that can be utilized to assess and quantify human health risks, and to identify appropriate approaches to...
2. Environmental Science
The Introduction to Environmental Science course explores the field of environmental science and encourages participants to understand how environmental scientists think. It addresses some important questions such as: 1. What is the difference between environmental science and environmental studies? 2. How do both differ from environmentalism? 3. Why is energy so important in environmental science? 4. What do you mean by biodiversity? You will also explore what global cycles are and how they...
3. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management
Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...
4. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment
Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...
5. Geospatial and Environmental Analysis
Apply your GIS knowledge in this course on geospatial analysis, focusing on analysis tools, 3D data, working with rasters, projections, and environment variables. Through all four weeks of this course, we'll work through a project together - something unique to this course - from project conception, through data retrieval, initial data management and processing, and finally to our analysis products. In this class you will learn the fundamentals of geospatial and environmental analysis during...
6. Introduction to Environmental Science
To understand current environmental problems, we need to consider physical, biological & chemical processes that are often the basis of those problems. This course will give you the skills necessary to address the environmental issues we are facing today by examining scientific principles and the application of those principles to natural systems. This course surveys some of the many environmental science topics at an introductory level, ultimately considering the sustainability of human...
7. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
8. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system
Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...
9. Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health
In this specialization, you will explore how many public health outcomes are directly influenced by human contact with the environment. The four courses in this series will introduce you to the environmental health sciences (EHS) discipline; you'll examine the hazards of air pollution, water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, radon, and noise; identify the major challenges posed by climate change and unsustainable practices; and use risk assessment to evaluate the health of population,...
10. Women in environmental biology
Have you ever wondered how humans relate to other living beings and what do you need to know to be able to understand current environmental problems? Do you know that many of these researches and knowledge have been described by women? This course gives answers to these questions and it is addressed to anyone interested in the relationship between humans and other living beings, as well as all those concerned about the global change situation that the planet is suffering. We will learn key...
11. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
12. Privacy and Data Protection, Certified GDPR Compliance
From theory to practice (junior and less than 1 year experience level)...
13. Compliance Training for Employees
Compliance: a simple, comprehensive and effective way to protect your company!...
14. OSHA Safety Pro: Hearing Protection Program
Your guide to preventing hearing loss using OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure Standards...
15. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
16. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out
OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...
17. HIPAA Compliance Complete Course
Protecting Patients and Practices...
18. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...
19. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
20. Certified Quality Process Analyst Training
Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) Exam Preparation Course - Confidently Pass the Exam on the First Attempt...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental assistants
The most affordable schools for environmental assistants are SUNY Farmingdale, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for environmental assistants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for environmental assistants.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental assistants
The hardest universities for environmental assistants to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
Some great schools for environmental assistants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for environmental assistants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental assistants
The easiest schools for environmental assistants to get into are Wayland Baptist University, curry college, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for environmental assistants.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
6. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
7. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
10. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
Average environmental assistant salary by education level
| Environmental assistant education level | Environmental assistant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $41,322 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,638 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $34,391 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $36,280 |
Environmental assistant education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025