Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Sustainability manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a sustainability manager. Sustainability managers usually study business, environmental science, or biology. 67% of sustainability managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 339 real sustainability manager resumes to see exactly what sustainability manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for sustainability managers are the American University and the American University.
There are also many online sustainability manager courses to help get the education required to be a sustainability manager.
What education do you need to become a sustainability manager?
What degree do you need to be a sustainability manager?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 8%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a sustainability manager?
- Business, 17%
- Biology, 8%
- Management, 6%
- Other Majors, 56%
Most common colleges for sustainability managers
| Sustainability manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| American University | 7.14% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.14% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 5.36% |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 5.36% |
| Harvard University | 5.36% |
Best majors for sustainability managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 17.1% |
| 2 | Environmental Science | 12.7% |
| 3 | Biology | 7.7% |
| 4 | Management | 6.1% |
| 5 | Marketing | 5.5% |
Best colleges for sustainability managers
The best colleges for sustainability managers are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
A sustainability 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 sustainability 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 sustainability managers.
1. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
9. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,912
Enrollment
14,245
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
20 best online courses for sustainability managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Managing Responsibly: Practicing Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics
Managers are increasingly confronted with issues of sustainability, responsibility and ethics. Managing responsibly is an integrative approach to sustainability, responsibility and ethics, which allows you as a manager to deal competently with such challenges. This course will facilitate your learning process to engage in changing practices to make them more sustainable, responsible, and ethically informed. We will first introduce the context of the trend towards responsible management...
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. Sustainability Management in Business
Everything you need to know about creating sustainable value, ESG and building business resilience...
4. Environmental sustainability in Maritime transport Industry
A course dedicated to Marine life and Marine Ecosystem...
5. 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,...
6. 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...
7. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management system
Understand the requirements for an environmental management system according to ISO 14001:2015...
8. Sustainability Reporting with GRI Standards
GRI Sustainability Reporting - Understanding the Standards...
9. 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...
10. Program Management Benefit Transition Sustainment in ClickUp
By the end of this guided project, you will be fluent in creating Program Benefits artefacts for the delivery/ closing Phases for diverse programs. You will utilise a logical diagramming plan in an agile environment to develop the solution. This will enable you to identify and classify the required components for benefits transition and sustainment. Furthermore, it will help develop a structural model for learning about the field of Program Management. If you are interested in building up the...
11. Mastering Construction/Project Management
Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...
12. ESG and Sustainable Investing 365
Foundational Course on ESG and Sustainable Finance Anchored in CFA Institute's research...
13. Driving business towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Extreme weather events, wars, famine and environmental destruction are just a few of the wicked problems faced by humanity. That’s why in 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that target the big challenges such as how to eliminate poverty, how to protect the environment and how to bring about peace. Every member state committed to achieving these goals by 2030. What can businesses do to counter...
14. Construction Cost Estimating and Management
Learn the tools used by construction management professionals to ensure their projects finish under budget...
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. 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. Start Improving Customer Service
Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...
18. Fundamentals of Intelligent Sustainable Business
A 100-year guide for growing sustainable business...
19. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
20. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
Top 10 most affordable universities for sustainability managers
The most affordable schools for sustainability managers are SUNY Farmingdale, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for sustainability 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 sustainability managers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
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 - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
10. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for sustainability managers
The hardest universities for sustainability managers to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Duke University.
Some great schools for sustainability 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 sustainability 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for sustainability managers
The easiest schools for sustainability managers 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 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 sustainability managers.
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. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
6. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
7. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
8. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
9. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
10. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
Average sustainability manager salary by education level
| Sustainability manager education level | Sustainability manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $99,138 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $78,329 |
| Doctorate Degree | $104,197 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,514 |
Sustainability manager education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
Search for sustainability manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025