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Environmental engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental engineer. Environmental engineers usually study civil engineering, chemical engineering, or environmental engineering. 75% of environmental engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 4,733 real environmental engineer resumes to see exactly what environmental engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental engineers are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.
There are also many online environmental engineer courses to help get the education required to be an environmental engineer.
There are certain environmental engineer certifications that you should consider. These environmental engineer certifications include Engineer In Training Certification (EIT) and Certified Environmental Systems Manager (CESM).
What education do you need to become an environmental engineer?
What degree do you need to be an environmental engineer?
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 4%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an environmental engineer?
- Civil Engineering, 19%
- Chemical Engineering, 19%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for environmental engineers
| Environmental engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 8.64% |
| Mississippi State University | 7.77% |
| Purdue University | 7.43% |
| Auburn University Main Campus | 7.25% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.87% |
Best majors for environmental engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Engineering | 19.3% |
| 2 | Chemical Engineering | 18.8% |
| 3 | Environmental Engineering | 17.1% |
| 4 | Environmental Science | 8.7% |
| 5 | Mechanical Engineering | 5.1% |
Best colleges for environmental engineers
The best colleges for environmental engineers are Columbia University in the City of New York, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.
An environmental engineer 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 engineers. 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 engineers.
1. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
8. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for environmental engineers
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. 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. 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...
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. Water Treatment Process Design
design water treatment& RO/NF plants, sand& multimedia filter, iron& manganese removal filter, Ion exchange DI& softener...
8. Design of Water Treatment Systems for Beginners
Learn how to fully design a water treatment system for small to medium scale projects...
9. Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries
Have you come across large piles of garbage in neighbourhoods and streets and smelly waste disposal sites polluting the environment of low- and middle-income countries? Do you want to know what kind of sustainable solutions are appropriate to better manage waste and enhance recycling and recovery? If yes, this course is for you! This course provides you with an overview of the municipal solid waste management situation in low- and middle-income countries. It covers key elements of the waste...
10. 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,...
11. Certified Quality Engineer Training [2022]
Comprehensive Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) Exam Preparation Course (2022 Body of Knowledge)...
12. 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...
13. ISO 9001:2015 Quality management system auditor
Upgrade your career by learning how to implement and audit a quality management system according to ISO 9001...
14. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
15. ISO 9001:2015-Quality Management System Implementation & Audit
Learn how to Implement and Audit a Quality Management System as per ISO 9001: 2015...
16. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
17. Mastering ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
Plain and Simple Clause by Clause Explanation of ISO 9001:2015 QMS Standard & Implementation Strategies...
18. Compliance Training for Employees
Compliance: a simple, comprehensive and effective way to protect your company!...
19. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
20. Electrical, Electronics and PCB Design Safety & Compliance
Learn the most important aspects and methods for designing safe electrical and electronics products and applications...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental engineers
The most affordable schools for environmental engineers are University of Florida, new mexico institute of mining and technology, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for environmental engineers 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 engineers.
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. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. 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
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental engineers
The hardest universities for environmental engineers to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Stanford University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for environmental engineers 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 engineers 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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,545
7. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
8. Rice University
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
10. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental engineers
The easiest schools for environmental engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, texas a&m; university - kingsville, and curry college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental engineer 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 engineers.
1. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
2. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
3. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
4. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
5. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
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. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
9. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
10. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona
Altoona, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,094
Average environmental engineer salary by education level
| Environmental engineer education level | Environmental engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $77,485 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $76,042 |
Environmental engineer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025