Intelligence Brief Sciences Sector
Environmental Science
Bachelor's · 4 years
C-
Scorecard
- $76,480
- Median salary
- 6%
- Projected growth
- 41/100
- Difficulty
- 6
- Career paths
AI Resilience 62
Overall Score 49
CollegeRanker Degree Outlook Score™
48
out of 100 · C+
Solid Outlook
Composite of earnings, projected growth, demand gap, AI resilience, career breadth, and remote flexibility — CollegeRanker's proprietary degree outlook model.
Supply vs Demand
BalancedMarket Demand48
Graduate Supply52
Supply and demand roughly aligned — projected 6% occupational growth (as fast as average).
Salary Trajectory
~1.8%/yrModeled from BLS median wage and occupational growth. Dashed bars are forecast. Illustrative, not a guarantee.
Where Graduates Work
Common Employers
- Pfizer
- Merck
- Genentech
- National Labs
- Thermo Fisher
- Regeneron
Representative employers that commonly hire Sciences graduates — illustrative of where graduates concentrate, not a guarantee.
Industry Mix
- Pharma & Biotech 33%
- Research & Labs 24%
- Healthcare 16%
- Government 14%
- Other 13%
Estimated distribution of Sciences graduates across hiring industries.
Executive Summary
- Environmental Science scores 49/100 (C-), reflecting a challenging profile among bachelor's programs.
- Median salary of $76,480 reflects moderate earning potential.
- Projected growth of 6% is below the national average.
- AI resilience score of 62 indicates moderate disruption risk across associated careers.
Environmental Science scores 49/100 — C-. The strongest dimension is salary (38/100), followed by remote potential (35/100). The biggest challenge: growth (21/100).
Research Insights
- Conditional Future-proof
Environmental Science is conditionally future-proof (51/100). The degree offers solid fundamentals but growth in some career pathways is slower than average. Strategic specialization can strengthen long-term positioning.
Score 51 /100 - Limited ROI
Environmental Science offers a challenging ROI profile (49/100). Median earnings of $76,480 are below many peers.
Score 49 /100 - Moderate Career Breadth
Environmental Science offers moderate career breadth (58/100). The 6 identified career paths provide options, but mobility across fields may require additional credentials or experience.
Score 58 /100
Decision Intelligence
Environmental Science presents a more complex risk/reward profile. Outcomes are less predictable and depend heavily on specific career targeting and graduate school plans.
Who Benefits Most
Students who value career stability and meet the academic prerequisites. Students who pair this degree with internships and networking outperform peers. The moderate AI risk makes it important to specialize.
Who Should Think Twice
Individuals who are uncomfortable with outdoor fieldwork or prefer not to engage in scientific research may find this degree unsuitable. Additionally, those seeking immediate high salaries or job security may be disappointed with the entry-level compensation and job competition.
Student Archetypes
- The Passionate Advocate Recommended
This student is deeply concerned about environmental issues and desires a career making a tangible impact. They are often involved in activism or volunteer work.
- The Career Switcher Conditional
This individual is transitioning from a different field and seeks to align their career with personal values related to the environment.
- The Salary Seeker Not Recommended
This student is primarily motivated by salary and job security, seeking high compensation without a strong interest in the environmental field.
Economic Importance
The Environmental Science degree plays a crucial role in industries such as environmental consulting, government agencies, and non-profit organizations focused on sustainability and conservation. As public awareness and regulatory frameworks surrounding environmental issues increase, demand for skilled professionals in this field continues to grow.
Scorecard Analysis
Our proprietary scorecard evaluates degrees across five dimensions from BLS wage and growth data, O*NET work context, and standard education requirements.
Below-average earning
Below-average growth
Moderate barrier
Primarily in-person
Less competitive
Difficulty Score
41/100
Composite reflecting the combined demands of salary, growth, barrier, remote compatibility, and competition.
AI Resilience Assessment
Automation risk for careers linked to this degree.
Environmental Science faces moderate AI disruption risk (62/100). While AI will automate routine components within many associated careers, core responsibilities still require human oversight and strategic thinking. Upskilling in AI collaboration tools is recommended.
- Domain expertise from this degree provides some protection against full automation.
- AI can handle routine reporting, data aggregation, and first-pass analysis in many associated careers.
- Risk factor: entry-level roles in fields linked to this degree may face headcount reduction as AI handles more data processing.
Intelligence Deep Dive
-
Reality Check
Many promotional materials emphasize the positive impact of environmental work without addressing the competitive nature of the job market. Graduates may face challenges in finding roles that align with their passions, especially in regions with limited opportunities.
-
Hiring Market Signal
Currently, the hiring market for Environmental Science graduates is moderately active, with increasing demand from both public and private sectors focusing on sustainability initiatives. Candidates with strong analytical skills and relevant internships are particularly attractive to employers.
-
Risk Factors
- Potential for job market saturation in certain regions
- Geographic concentration of opportunities in urban areas
- Dependence on public funding and policy changes
- High debt loads impacting financial stability
- Automation of some environmental monitoring tasks
-
ROI Timeline
Typically, graduates can expect to recoup their investment in about 5-10 years, depending on starting salaries and personal debt levels. Those who rapidly secure higher-paying roles or pursue further education may see a quicker return.
What You'll Study
The curriculum combines courses like Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, and Climate Science to provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental systems and policies. This interdisciplinary approach equips graduates to tackle real-world environmental challenges effectively.
The curriculum typically begins with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, progressing to specialized subjects like ecology, environmental policy, and geographic information systems. Hands-on learning is an integral part of the experience, often involving laboratory work, field studies, and projects that address real-world environmental problems.
Internships are highly encouraged, providing students with practical experience in various settings, such as government agencies, non-profits, and private sector firms. These experiences can be challenging, as they often require students to apply theoretical knowledge in dynamic environments while working under tight deadlines.
Typical Curriculum
- Ecology
- Environmental Chemistry
- GIS & Remote Sensing
- Climate Science
- Water Resources
- Environmental Policy
- Soil Science
- Field Methods
Career Pipeline
From entry to executive.
Entry-Level
- Environmental Technician
- Research Assistant
- Sustainability Coordinator
Mid-Career
- Environmental Scientist
- Sustainability Consultant
- Environmental Compliance Specialist
Advanced
- EHS Manager
- Conservation Scientist
Pipeline Insight
Graduates typically start in entry-level roles that provide hands-on experience and exposure to the field. Those who advance often pursue further education or certifications, leveraging their experience and expanding their network to transition into higher-level positions.
Career Outcomes
Graduates with a degree in Environmental Science can expect to find opportunities in various sectors, including government, consulting, and non-profit organizations. The median salary for these roles is approximately $76,480, with a projected job growth of 6% over the next decade, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable practices and environmental regulation compliance.
- Environmental Scientist
- Sustainability Consultant
- Environmental Compliance Specialist
- Conservation Scientist
- Climate Analyst
- EHS Manager
Compensation Context
The median salary of $76,480 reflects the balance between demand for environmental expertise and the entry-level nature of many positions in the field. Geographic location, industry sector, and specific skills can significantly influence pay, with urban areas and specialized roles often offering higher compensation.
Alternative Routes
Similar or competing pathways students consider alongside Environmental Science:
- Environmental Policy
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Geography
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Studies
Getting In & Timeline
Typical time to complete: 4 years full-time
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Strong background in science and mathematics
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or essay
Advice
To succeed in this program, develop strong analytical skills and seek internships early to gain practical experience.
Is This Degree Worth It?
The ROI of an Environmental Science degree can be favorable for those who secure positions in high-demand areas or pursue advanced degrees. However, graduates may face challenges if they enter saturated job markets or have high debt loads, which can hinder their financial stability.
Schools With Strong Outcomes in Sciences
Ranked by median graduate earnings 10 years after enrollment. Schools grouped into tiers by outcome level.
Top Tier2schools
Strong Outcomes2schools
Explore More Degrees
Methodology & Data Sources
Every score, grade, and verdict on this page is built from a consistent framework designed to answer one question: what is the expected return on this degree?
Scorecard dimensions. We evaluate programs on five proprietary axes — Salary, Job Growth, Education Barrier, Remote/Online Compatibility, and Competition — each normalized to a 0–100 scale. The Overall Score is a weighted composite: salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), barrier proximity (15%), competition inverse (10%), and career breadth (10%). Letter grades follow a standard scale from A+ (95+) down to F.
AI Resilience. Measures automation risk across the degree's associated career pathways. Each degree receives a category-level baseline adjusted upward for AI-adjacent fields (e.g., machine learning, computer science) and downward for fields with higher routine-task exposure. The score represents the degree's resistance to labor-market disruption, not a prediction of elimination.
Verdict scores. Future-Proof, ROI, and Career Breadth are secondary composites weighting AI resilience, growth, salary, barrier, and career count to answer specific decision questions: is this career durable (Future-Proof), financially worthwhile (ROI), and flexible (Career Breadth)?
Data sources. Salary and growth figures are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (O*NET) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2023–2033 projections). Education requirement data and work context scores come from O*NET 28.2. School-level earnings data is sourced from the Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker (median earnings 10 years after enrollment, based on federal tax records). Program rankings and school lists reflect CollegeRanker's proprietary classification and filtering methodology.
This page is built on disclosed, reproducible data. No affiliate bias, no survey-based rankings, no undisclosed weighting.
Data Behind This Page Updated 2025
Source datasets
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023–2033 projections
- O*NET 28.2 — education requirements and work-context data
- Opportunity Insights — earnings 10 years after enrollment (federal tax records)
Methodology
Degrees are scored on five normalized axes — salary (30%), job growth (20%), AI resilience (15%), education barrier (15%), and competition (10%), plus career breadth (10%) — each on a 0–100 scale.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Salary and growth figures come from federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data — administrative wage records and official projections, not surveys.
- AI-resilience scores are computed from O*NET task and work-context data, applied consistently across every program.
- Every measure is normalized to a fixed 0–100 scale, so degrees are directly comparable.
Limitations
- BLS wage data reflect national medians; actual pay varies widely by region, employer, and experience.
- Job growth is a 2023–2033 projection, not a guarantee — labor markets shift with technology and the economy.
- AI-resilience is a directional estimate of automation exposure, not a prediction about any specific role.
- Figures describe typical outcomes for the field, not a promise for any individual graduate.
