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Environmental manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental manager. Environmental managers usually study environmental science, biology, or business. 72% of environmental managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,122 real environmental manager resumes to see exactly what environmental manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental managers are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.
There are also many online environmental manager courses to help get the education required to be an environmental manager.
There are certain environmental manager certifications that you should consider. These environmental manager certifications include Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
What education do you need to become an environmental manager?
What degree do you need to be an environmental manager?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 8%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become an environmental manager?
Most common colleges for environmental managers
| Environmental manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Purdue University | 10.25% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 9.02% |
| University of South Carolina - Columbia | 8.61% |
| Indiana University South Bend | 6.56% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.33% |
Best majors for environmental managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Science | 14.5% |
| 2 | Biology | 13.2% |
| 3 | Business | 11.5% |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering | 8.0% |
| 5 | Geology | 7.2% |
Best colleges for environmental managers
The best colleges for environmental managers are Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, and Stanford University.
An environmental manager 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 managers. 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 managers.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
20 best online courses for environmental managers
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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. 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...
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. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
8. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
9. 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...
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 Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
12. Introduction to Compliance Risk Management CRM
Compliance risk management CRM for Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and IS Security Professionals...
13. Regulatory Compliance
Every organization faces a myriad of risks that can threaten its operations, reputation, and bottom line. A robust, effective compliance program can make the difference between companies that successfully navigate those risks, and those that become cautionary tales.\n\nThis specialization will introduce the essential elements of effective organizational compliance by exploring the concepts, considerations, and strategies for assessing risks and managing the compliance function. You will learn...
14. Compliance Training for Employees
Compliance: a simple, comprehensive and effective way to protect your company!...
15. 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...
16. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
17. Integrated Management. ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 & ISO 45001
Learn how to implement and audit an integrated management system...
18. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
19. Solid Waste Mangement
A primer on the best practices for managing solid waste...
20. ISO 37001. Anti-bribery management system
Learn how to prevent, detect or address bribery and how to build an anti-bribery culture in an organization...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental managers
The most affordable schools for environmental managers 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 managers 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 managers.
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. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
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. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental managers
The hardest universities for environmental managers to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for environmental managers 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 managers 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. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
9. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental managers
The easiest schools for environmental managers to get into are Barry University, university of houston - downtown, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental manager 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 managers.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,012
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
10. Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,072
Average environmental manager salary by education level
| Environmental manager education level | Environmental manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $85,685 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $58,519 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,559 |
| Doctorate Degree | $92,253 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $61,971 |
Environmental manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025