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Environmental scientist/geologist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an environmental scientist/geologist. Environmental scientist/geologists usually study geology, environmental science, or biology. 88% of environmental scientist/geologists hold a bachelor's degree, and 7% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 108 real environmental scientist/geologist resumes to see exactly what environmental scientist/geologist education sections show.
The most common colleges for environmental scientist/geologists are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.
There are also many online environmental scientist/geologist courses to help get the education required to be an environmental scientist/geologist.
What education do you need to become an environmental scientist/geologist?
What degree do you need to be an environmental scientist/geologist?
- Bachelor's, 88%
- Master's, 7%
- Associate, 4%
- Doctorate, 1%
What should I major in to become an environmental scientist/geologist?
- Geology, 71%
- Biology, 3%
- Anthropology, 2%
- Other Majors, 15%
Most common colleges for environmental scientist/geologists
| Environmental scientist/geologist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 13.16% |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | 7.89% |
| Tennessee Technological University | 7.89% |
| University of Cincinnati | 5.26% |
| Washington State University | 5.26% |
Best majors for environmental scientist/geologists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geology | 71.4% |
| 2 | Environmental Science | 9.2% |
| 3 | Biology | 3.1% |
| 4 | Anthropology | 2.0% |
| 5 | Geological Engineering | 2.0% |
Best colleges for environmental scientist/geologists
The best colleges for environmental scientist/geologists are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
An environmental scientist/geologist 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 scientist/geologists. 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 scientist/geologists.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
3. University of California - Davis
Davis, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,402
Enrollment
30,698
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
10. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
20 best online courses for environmental scientist/geologists
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. 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...
3. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system
Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...
4. HACCP-Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Certification
Food Safety Preventive Approach (HACCP System)...
5. Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: New Paradigms, Technologies, and Applications
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...
6. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox
In this course you will get an introduction to the main tools and ideas in the data scientist's toolbox. The course gives an overview of the data, questions, and tools that data analysts and data scientists work with. There are two components to this course. The first is a conceptual introduction to the ideas behind turning data into actionable knowledge. The second is a practical introduction to the tools that will be used in the program like version control, markdown, git, GitHub, R, and...
7. Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment
Risk Management: Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA), Hazard Control & Mitigation, Risk Evaluation Techniques...
8. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
9. Der Werkzeugkasten des Data Scientist
In this course you will get an introduction to the main tools and ideas in the data scientist's toolbox. The course gives an overview of the data, questions, and tools that data analysts and data scientists work with. There are two components to this course. The first is a conceptual introduction to the ideas behind turning data into actionable knowledge. The second is a practical introduction to the tools that will be used in the program like version control, markdown, git, GitHub, R, and...
10. 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...
11. Java Collections from basics to Advanced
Data Structure using Java Collection Framework - Including Concurrent Collections, Streams, Generics, Parallel Streams...
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. Survey Data Collection and Analytics
This specialization covers the fundamentals of surveys as used in market research, evaluation research, social science and political research, official government statistics, and many other topic domains. In six courses, you will learn the basics of questionnaire design, data collection methods, sampling design, dealing with missing values, making estimates, combining data from different sources, and the analysis of survey data. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll apply the skills learned...
14. OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy and Lock Out / Tag Out
OSHA required training under 29 CFR 1910 and 1926...
15. Data Engineer/Data Scientist - Power BI/ Python/ ETL/SSIS
Hands-on Data Interaction and Manipulation...
16. Air Dispersion Modeling for Environmental Management
Environmental management with AERMOD Air Pollution Model by EPA...
17. Essential Non Technical Skills of Effective Data Scientists
Boost your Data Science Career by developing these crucial Non Technical Skills & become a Successful Data Scientist...
18. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
19. NEBOSH health and safety Management System
It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...
20. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
Top 10 most affordable universities for environmental scientist/geologists
The most affordable schools for environmental scientist/geologists are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for environmental scientist/geologists 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 scientist/geologists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
5. 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
6. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for environmental scientist/geologists
The hardest universities for environmental scientist/geologists to get into are Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for environmental scientist/geologists 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 scientist/geologists 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. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
8. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for environmental scientist/geologists
The easiest schools for environmental scientist/geologists to get into are Wayland Baptist University, d'youville college, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an environmental scientist/geologist 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 scientist/geologists.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,012
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
10. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
Average environmental scientist/geologist salary by education level
| Environmental scientist/geologist education level | Environmental scientist/geologist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $68,901 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,033 |
Environmental scientist/geologist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025