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Environmental consultant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental consultant. Environmental consultants usually study environmental science, biology, or geology. 74% of environmental consultants hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,257 real environmental consultant resumes to see exactly what environmental consultant education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental consultants are the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
There are also many online environmental consultant courses to help get the education required to be an environmental consultant.
There are certain environmental consultant certifications that you should consider. These environmental consultant certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Environmental Professional: Environmental Operations.
What education do you need to become an environmental consultant?
What degree do you need to be an environmental consultant?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an environmental consultant?
Most common colleges for environmental consultants
| Environmental consultant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 7.29% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.48% |
| Michigan State University | 6.07% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.07% |
| University of Florida | 6.07% |
Best majors for environmental consultants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Science | 24.7% |
| 2 | Biology | 13.7% |
| 3 | Geology | 12.2% |
| 4 | Business | 5.1% |
| 5 | Chemical Engineering | 4.9% |
Best colleges for environmental consultants
The best colleges for environmental consultants are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
An environmental consultant 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 consultants. 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 consultants.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
7. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
8. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
20 best online courses for environmental consultants
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
2. 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...
3. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management
Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...
4. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system
Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...
5. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
Course Overview: https://youtu.be/LLVb4FOn4uU This course provides a basic knowledge of an emerging area – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in buildings. Learners will realize the importance of maintaining proper IAQ. Characteristics associated with indoor air contaminants (IAC) are demonstrated, such as • Particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10) • Radon • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Asbestos • Bio-aerosols, and more Safe exposure levels, resulting health effects, measurement techniques, mitigate and...
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. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants
How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...
8. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM
Compliance risk management CRM for Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and IS Security Professionals...
9. 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...
10. 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...
11. Project Management Office (PMO) for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to build and run PMO on the level of top consulting firm Mc Kinsey, BCG, Bain, Pw C...
12. Performance Improvement Projects for Management Consultants
A practical guide on how to conduct consulting projects on the level of Mc Kinsey, Bain, BCG, Pw C...
13. Quality Management for Business Excellence
Lead Quality Management in the Organization • Transform the Organization to Become the Best-in-Class...
14. Quality Management Systems:Management and Control of Quality
Learn to Build, Implement, and Sustain a Performance Excellence Culture into Your Organisation...
15. Management Consulting Techniques, Tools and Frameworks
Most useful consulting skills, techniques from top consulting firms like Mc Kinsey, BCG, Bain...
16. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
17. ISO9001 Quality Management System
Learn why your business should be using Quality Management TODAY and create your own QMS (Quality Management System)...
18. Compliance Training for Employees
Compliance: a simple, comprehensive and effective way to protect your company!...
19. Kaizen Practitioner Masterclass for Quality Management.
Structured Approach to identify and Eliminate waste in Business for Continuous Improvement & Quality Management...
20. Production Planning for Management Consultants & Analysts
A practical guide on how to do analyses during consulting projects...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental consultants
The most affordable schools for environmental consultants are University of Florida, new mexico institute of mining and technology, and florida international university.
If the best universities for environmental consultants 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 consultants.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,770
Cost of attendance
21,244
3. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
4. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental consultants
The hardest universities for environmental consultants to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
Some great schools for environmental consultants 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 consultants 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. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
6. Rice University
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Tufts University
Medford, MA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,461
8. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental consultants
The easiest schools for environmental consultants to get into are Wayland Baptist University, texas a&m; university - kingsville, and the university of texas at el paso.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental consultant 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 consultants.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
3. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
6. Portland State University
Portland, OR • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,111
7. Lamar University
Beaumont, TX • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,043
8. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,093
9. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
10. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
Average environmental consultant salary by education level
| Environmental consultant education level | Environmental consultant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $76,756 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,251 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025