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Sustainability coordinator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a sustainability coordinator. Sustainability coordinators usually study environmental science, political science, or sustainability. 74% of sustainability coordinators hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 484 real sustainability coordinator resumes to see exactly what sustainability coordinator education sections show.
The most common colleges for sustainability coordinators are the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
There are also many online sustainability coordinator courses to help get the education required to be a sustainability coordinator.
There are certain sustainability coordinator certifications that you should consider. These sustainability coordinator certifications include Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP) and LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED).
What education do you need to become a sustainability coordinator?
What degree do you need to be a sustainability coordinator?
- Bachelor's, 74%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 8%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a sustainability coordinator?
- Sustainability, 8%
- Business, 8%
- Other Majors, 45%
Most common colleges for sustainability coordinators
| Sustainability coordinator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 10.39% |
| Rollins College | 7.79% |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | 6.49% |
| Ohio State University | 6.49% |
| University of Oregon | 6.49% |
Best majors for sustainability coordinators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental Science | 30.4% |
| 2 | Political Science | 8.8% |
| 3 | Sustainability | 8.3% |
| 4 | Business | 7.9% |
| 5 | Psychology | 5.4% |
Best colleges for sustainability coordinators
The best colleges for sustainability coordinators are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A sustainability coordinator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for sustainability coordinators. 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 sustainability coordinators.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
7. University of California - Davis
Davis, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,402
Enrollment
30,698
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for sustainability coordinators
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1. 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...
2. Sustainable Urban Water Systems
The MOOC “Sustainable Urban Water Systems” aims to provide knowledge about modern and sustainable solutions for urban water management in water-sensitive cities. The focus is on stormwater control and water supply strategies for the mitigation of effects on the water cycles due to human settlements and climate change. In particular, the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into urban drainage systems, the use of alternative water resources, and the reduction of losses and waste, make...
3. Solid Waste Mangement
A primer on the best practices for managing solid waste...
4. Lean Management: Reduce waste and boost efficiency
Learn how to use the principles of lean management to optimize production, eliminate waste, and maximize customer value...
5. Business Sustainability in the Circular Economy
We are surrounded by so much discussion of sustainability that it can sometimes become overwhelming. Important questions include: What role can business have in ensuring the sustainability of the planet? How should business work with society to preserve the environment? These questions will be answered in this course as we explore the meaning of sustainability and its impact on modern organisations as they move to circular ideas to reduce waste, increase recycling and become fit for our modern...
6. Sustainable Food Systems
Throughout this course, you will delve into the intricate details of the food production system through a system-thinking lens. You will examine the grand challenges faced by the food, fiber, and natural resource industries, and their repercussions on people, the planet, and profit. By the end of this course, you will have a clear understanding of the concept of systems thinking, be able to explain the three key pillars of sustainability and link these pillars to social, environmental, and...
7. Eliminate waste by implementing 5S
Learn how to remove waste from your processes with real implementers...
8. Sustainability Management in Business
Everything you need to know about creating sustainable value, ESG and building business resilience...
9. Sustainable Business Enterprises
This course will explore current challenges and opportunities facing firms in the area of environmental sustainability. It will begin with an introduction to sustainability, with a particular focus on how environmental sustainability is relevant to business. Topics such as unsustainable consumption/consumer behavior, market research on sustainable product design , and sustainable value chains and communications will be covered. We will also cover the bottom-up approach in terms of immersion,...
10. Climate change education: sustainable environments
In this course, we explore the components of landscapes and natural disasters. We emphasize human actions that impact the environment, both in terms of modification and preservation. Additionally, we explore concepts related to cities, megacities, and sustainable environments. The course also delves into the connection between the environment, health, and diseases."...
11. ESG and Sustainable Investing 365
Foundational Course on ESG and Sustainable Finance Anchored in CFA Institute's research...
12. Sustainability Reporting with GRI Standards
GRI Sustainability Reporting - Understanding the Standards...
13. Climate Change, Sustainability, and Global Public Health
The third course of the Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health specialization will introduce you to two major environmental health challenges facing the world today. The first is climate change –the preeminent threat to public health today, and a threat that will impact every human and ecosystem on the planet. We will evaluate the causes and impacts of climate change, as well as policies and approaches that can be used to reduce the impacts of climate change on human health. The...
14. Circular Economy - Sustainable Materials Management
This course looks at where important materials in products we use every day come from and how these materials can be used more efficiently, longer, and in closed loops. This is the aim of the Circular Economy, but it doesn’t happen on its own. It is the result of choices and strategies by suppliers, designers, businesses, policymakers and all of us as consumers. In addition to providing many cases of managing materials for sustainability, the course also teaches skills and tools for analyzing...
15. Environmental sustainability in Maritime transport Industry
A course dedicated to Marine life and Marine Ecosystem...
16. Basics of Sustainability: Learn in Simple Language
Sustainability is not just good to know, it's a must to know in this 21st century...
17. Healthy and Sustainable Foods and Products
The effects of climate change have prompted individuals and institutions to evaluate their impact on our planet. In this specialization, learn how you and global companies can reduce the harmful effects of overproduction and overconsumption on our health and the environment using quantitative metrics and assessment methods.\n\nThis series will allow you to:\n\nAnalyze the health impacts of global trade and identify the steps needed to reach sustainable consumption. Assess the nutritional and...
18. The Sustainability Imperative
In this course, learners begin with a macro-level view of the current state of the world and touch upon topics such as climate change, plastic pollution, social inequity, and the economic systems that got us to where we are today. Learners investigate how such an economy cannot sustain itself and the need for a rapid transition to something different. We define sustainability, the meaning of sustainable development, and the United Nations' Sustainability Goals. Recognizing that change is...
19. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
20. Sustainable Cities
This Specialization is intended for individuals and organizations interested in developing skills and strategies to create and support sustainable cities. Through these four courses, you will gain a strong understanding of the tools and concepts needed to succeed in reaching this goal. Successful case studies of smart growth applications will be evaluated and assessed for multiple cities throughout the United States. The concentration will provide students with an introduction to sustainable...
Top 10 most affordable universities for sustainability coordinators
The most affordable schools for sustainability coordinators are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for sustainability coordinators 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 sustainability coordinators.
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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. 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
5. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
6. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for sustainability coordinators
The hardest universities for sustainability coordinators to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for sustainability coordinators 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 sustainability coordinators 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
10. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for sustainability coordinators
The easiest schools for sustainability coordinators to get into are Wayland Baptist University, curry college, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a sustainability coordinator 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 sustainability coordinators.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
6. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Ursuline College
Pepper Pike, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,102
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average sustainability coordinator salary by education level
| Sustainability coordinator education level | Sustainability coordinator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $65,185 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,844 |
| Doctorate Degree | $67,097 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,536 |
Sustainability coordinator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025