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Environmental educator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an environmental educator. Environmental educators usually study environmental science, biology, or ecology, population biology, and epidemiology. 81% of environmental educators hold a bachelor's degree, and 10% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,018 real environmental educator resumes to see exactly what environmental educator education sections show.

The most common colleges for environmental educators are the Ramapo College of New Jersey and the Ramapo College of New Jersey.

There are also many online environmental educator courses to help get the education required to be an environmental educator.

There are certain environmental educator certifications that you should consider. These environmental educator certifications include Certified Environmental Professional: Environmental Research & Education and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

What education do you need to become an environmental educator?

What degree do you need to be an environmental educator?

The most common degree for environmental educators is bachelor's degree, with 81% of environmental educators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 10% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 81%
  • Master's, 10%
  • Associate, 6%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become an environmental educator?

You should major in environmental science to become an environmental educator. 30% of environmental educators major in environmental science. Other common majors for an environmental educator include biology and ecology, population biology, and epidemiology.

Most common colleges for environmental educators

Environmental educators often get their degrees at Ramapo College of New Jersey, University of Oregon, and University of Georgia. Here are the most common colleges for environmental educators in the US based on their resumes.
Environmental educator common collegePercentages
Ramapo College of New Jersey6.19%
University of Oregon6.19%
University of Georgia6.19%
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry5.75%
Pennsylvania State University5.75%

Best majors for environmental educators

Best colleges for environmental educators

The best colleges for environmental educators are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

An environmental educator 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 educators. 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 educators.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

20 best online courses for environmental educators

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1. Environmental Science

coursera

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. Introduction to Environmental Science

coursera

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...

3. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system

udemy
4.4
(4,224)

Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...

4. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management

udemy
4.4
(267)

Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...

5. Women in environmental biology

coursera

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...

6. Geospatial and Environmental Analysis

coursera

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...

7. The A to Z of ESG - Environmental & Social Governance

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4.2
(1,318)

A Perspective for Businesses on How to Manage ESG - Why it matters to Financial Performance and to the Economy...

8. Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development

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4.2
(954)

Environmental Issues...

9. Human Health Risks, Health Equity, and Environmental Justice

coursera

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. Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications

coursera

Cleaning up the large number of groundwater contamination sites is a significant and complex environmental challenge. The environmental industry is continuously looking for remediation methods that are both effective and cost-efficient. Over the past 10 years there have been amazing, important developments in our understanding of key attenuation processes and technologies for evaluating natural attenuation processes, and a changing institutional perspective on when and where Monitored Natural...

11. Environmental sustainability in Maritime transport Industry

udemy
4.7
(312)

A course dedicated to Marine life and Marine Ecosystem...

12. Certified Global ESG Professional (Associate Level)

udemy
4.3
(773)

Learn Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Fundamentals, ESG Factors , Reporting and Valuation of ESG & Initiatives...

13. Critical Issues in Urban Education

coursera

Urban school reform in the United States is characterized by contentious, politicized debate. This course explores a set of critical issues in the education and educational reform space, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked controversy and polarized views. We will dig into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, and considering the viewpoints, the evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy. We will...

14. Analyzing Macro-Environmental Factors Using Creately

coursera

By the end of this 2 hour-long guided project, you will be fluent in identifying and analyzing business markets and how to discover their attractiveness to new products and services. This project is designed to engage and harness your visionary and exploratory abilities. You will be using proven models in competitive strategy and the program Creately to explore and analyze these models. This is an important step for individuals or companies wanting to explore new markets for products or...

15. Sustainability Management in Business

udemy
4.3
(371)

Everything you need to know about creating sustainable value, ESG and building business resilience...

16. Learn To Communicate With Animals & Nature

udemy
4.3
(338)

Tap into the wisdom of nature and animals. Learn an easy process to assist you to communicate with animals and nature...

17. Indigenous Religions & Ecology

coursera

At first glance the fields of religion and ecology may seem and unlikely pairing, but a deeper consideration reveals the two have a great deal to contribute to one another and are indeed inextricably linked. Religions recognize the unity and interdependence of humans with nature. Ecological sciences affirm this deep interconnection with the natural world. This partnership can inspire work for the wellbeing of the Earth community There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the...

18. South Asian Religions & Ecology

coursera

At first glance the fields of religion and ecology may seem and unlikely pairing, but a deeper consideration reveals the two have a great deal to contribute to one another and are indeed inextricably linked. Religions recognize the unity and interdependence of humans with nature. Ecological sciences affirm this deep interconnection with the natural world. This partnership can inspire work for the wellbeing of the Earth community There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the...

19. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

udemy
4.4
(876)

Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...

20. East Asian Religions & Ecology

coursera

At first glance the fields of religion and ecology may seem and unlikely pairing, but a deeper consideration reveals the two have a great deal to contribute to one another and are indeed inextricably linked. Religions recognize the unity and interdependence of humans with nature. Ecological sciences affirm this deep interconnection with the natural world. This partnership can inspire work for the wellbeing of the Earth community There is a need for broader literacy and deeper knowledge of the...

Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental educators

The most affordable schools for environmental educators are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for environmental educators 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 educators.

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. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

10. 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

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental educators

The hardest universities for environmental educators to get into are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for environmental educators 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 educators 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. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

10. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental educators

The easiest schools for environmental educators to get into are Wayland Baptist University, barry university, and saint joseph's college of maine.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental educator 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 educators.

1. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

4. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

5. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

10. Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,102

Average environmental educator salary by education level

According to our data, environmental educators with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $50,200 annually. Environmental educators with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $41,572.
Environmental educator education levelEnvironmental educator salary
Master's Degree$41,572
Doctorate Degree$50,200

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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