Compare 70 Environmental Studies. programs in the West. Average earnings: $44,479.
With top graduates earning $75,497, Environmental Studies stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $31K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
San Jose State University's Environmental Studies program leads with graduates earning $75,497, well above the regional average of $44,479. UC Berkeley follows at $72,049, while UCLA rounds out the top three at $69,142—demonstrating that both CSU and UC systems produce strong outcomes in this field.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $75,497 | 61 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Good | |
| #2 | $72,049 | 506 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $69,142 | 77 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $63,206 | 272 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Manageable | |
| #5 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | $62,460 | 44 | $26,000 | Good | $28,208 | Challenging |
| #6 | $62,369 | 66 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $62,010 | 55 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $61,930 | 98 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Manageable | |
| #9 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $61,930 | 46 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #10 | $60,564 | 56 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $58,905 | 23 | $16,544 | Excellent | $15,738 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Occidental CollegePrivate | $58,582 | 15 | $23,000 | Good | $51,450 | High |
| #13 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $58,140 | 41 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | High |
| #14 | $57,262 | 358 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $57,249 | 25 | $14,715 | Excellent | $12,000 | Good | |
| #16 | $56,387 | 52 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #17 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $55,166 | 43 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Challenging |
| #18 | $54,749 | 39 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #19 | $53,052 | 47 | $17,500 | Excellent | $18,275 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $51,606 | 72 | $12,750 | Excellent | $16,836 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $51,113 | 45 | $21,500 | Good | $13,743 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $50,846 | 44 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $50,418 | 17 | $21,000 | Good | $11,827 | Manageable | |
| #24 | Colorado Mesa UniversityPublic | $50,331 | 21 | $22,000 | Good | $18,879 | Challenging |
| #25 | $50,224 | 272 | $18,500 | Good | $23,123 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
