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Environmental chemist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental chemist. Environmental chemists usually study chemistry, biology, or environmental science. 82% of environmental chemists hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 620 real environmental chemist resumes to see exactly what environmental chemist education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental chemists are the Texas State University and the Texas State University.
There are also many online environmental chemist courses to help get the education required to be an environmental chemist.
What education do you need to become an environmental chemist?
What degree do you need to be an environmental chemist?
- Bachelor's, 82%
- Master's, 10%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an environmental chemist?
Most common colleges for environmental chemists
| Environmental chemist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Texas State University | 6.41% |
| University of Kansas | 6.41% |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | 6.41% |
| University of Florida | 5.13% |
| University of South Florida | 5.13% |
Best majors for environmental chemists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry | 47.7% |
| 2 | Biology | 17.7% |
| 3 | Environmental Science | 8.7% |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering | 4.4% |
| 5 | Geology | 3.0% |
Best colleges for environmental chemists
The best colleges for environmental chemists are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.
An environmental chemist 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 chemists. 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 chemists.
1. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
20 best online courses for environmental chemists
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
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. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system
Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...
4. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management
Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...
5. 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...
6. 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...
7. Excel Analytics: Linear Regression Analysis in MS Excel
Linear Regression analysis in Excel. Analytics in Excel includes regression analysis, Goal seek and What-if analysis...
8. Financial Analysis and Financial Modeling using MS Excel
Perform financial analysis & financial modeling using Microsoft excel. For people who want to become a Financial Analyst...
9. Sample-based Learning Methods
In this course, you will learn about several algorithms that can learn near optimal policies based on trial and error interaction with the environment---learning from the agent’s own experience. Learning from actual experience is striking because it requires no prior knowledge of the environment’s dynamics, yet can still attain optimal behavior. We will cover intuitively simple but powerful Monte Carlo methods, and temporal difference learning methods including Q-learning. We will wrap up this...
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. The A to Z of ESG - Environmental & Social Governance
A Perspective for Businesses on How to Manage ESG - Why it matters to Financial Performance and to the Economy...
12. Advance Analytics with Excel - data analysis toolpak/ Solver
Advanced data analysis in excel: Data Analysis tools (toolpak add-in) for statistics / solver for linear optimization...
13. Population, Food, and Soil
This course explores the population-environment relationship. In this course, you will learn about the human population and the ways in which changes in the population affect the environment. Agriculture, soils, and the environmental implications of eating meat, vegetables, local, organic, sustainable, industrial, and other types of food are discussed too. We explore questions such as: 1. How many people live on Earth right now? 2. What is the carrying capacity of Earth? 3. What is the...
14. Statistics for Business Analytics using MS Excel
Learn how probability & statistics is used for business & business strategy. Make statistical business models in Excel...
15. Microsoft 365 Bundle (MS-100, MS-101 & SharePoint 365)
Learn topics from the Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security MS-100 and MS-101 exams as well as Share Point 365 Site Owner...
16. SAP Implementation Process Training with Sample Documents
SAP Functional Implementation and Roles and Responsibilities...
17. ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabus Sample Exams
New Sample exams to help you in passing the ISTQB-FL exam...
18. HACCP-Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Certification
Food Safety Preventive Approach (HACCP System)...
19. Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis
Become proficient in satellite remote sensing, spatial analysis principles, methods, applications, sensors, and GIS!...
20. Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development
Environmental Issues...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental chemists
The most affordable schools for environmental chemists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and university of south florida.
If the best universities for environmental chemists 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 chemists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
4. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
7. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
10. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental chemists
The hardest universities for environmental chemists to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for environmental chemists 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 chemists 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental chemists
The easiest schools for environmental chemists to get into are D'Youville College, wayland baptist university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental chemist 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 chemists.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
5. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
10. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
Average environmental chemist salary by education level
| Environmental chemist education level | Environmental chemist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $60,213 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,300 |
| Doctorate Degree | $72,230 |
Environmental chemist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025