The best environmental engineering master’s degrees explore the impacts of human activities on the environment and find ways to provide a working solution to them. They offer the advanced knowledge of pressing environmental concerns such as waste management, climate change, sustainability, and renewable energy generation. An environmental engineering master’s degree also combines different disciplines to provide a legal, economic, and social background on environmental issues.
This guide contains a list of the best environmental engineering master’s degree programs, the admission requirements for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering, and high-paying environmental engineering master’s degree jobs.
Where Can I Get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
Some of the best schools to get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering are Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Drexel University, North Carolina State University, and Oregon State University.
What Schools Offer the Best Environmental Engineering Master’s Degrees?
- Arizona State University
- Colorado State University
- Drexel University
- North Carolina State University
- Oregon State University
What Are the Admission Requirements for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
The admission requirements for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering are a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, letters of recommendation, a resume, a statement of purpose, and proof of English proficiency for international students.
Most schools require that prospective students have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate degrees. International students may need to prove their proficiency in the English language by providing TOEFL or IELTS test scores. Although this requirement may be waived under special circumstances. It is advisable for candidates to research the specific admission requirements of their school of choice before they begin the admission process.
Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- Standardized test scores (GRE)
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
- Proof of English proficiency
How to Get an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree
The best way to get an environmental engineering master’s degree is by fulfilling all of the graduation requirements. Every school has specific requirements that students must fulfill to successfully complete the program and earn the degree.
How Many Credits Do You Need for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
You will need to complete between 30 and 45 credits to get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. The number of college credits you need depends on the school and the specialization in environmental engineering. A Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering also involves a thesis at the end of the program.
Environmental Engineering Degree Requirements
- 15 units of core courses
- 9 to 12 credits of specialization courses
- 12 credits in a cognate discipline track
- 9 credits of elective courses
- Thesis
Best Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Programs and Schools: Overview
| School | Program | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| Colorado State University | Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering Track | Higher Learning Commission |
| Drexel University | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| North Carolina State University | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Oregon State University | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Rice University | Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Syracuse University | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of Michigan | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
| University of North Dakota | Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | Higher Learning Commission |
Best Schools for Environmental Engineering: Top Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Programs
The best schools for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering include Arizona State University, Rice University, and Syracuse University. It is important for prospective students seeking admission into an environmental engineering master’s degree program to review the best schooling options. This section contains an overview of the best schools for environmental engineering and related information, including admission requirements, tuition, and accreditation.
What Is an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
An environmental engineering master’s degree is a graduate engineering program that focuses on protecting people from the adverse effects of environmental challenges such as pollution and improving the quality of air, water, and soil. It involves an application of engineering and natural sciences, including chemistry, biology, and soil science, to address emerging environmental concerns and ensure environmental sustainability.
A Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering lasts between 18 and 24 months. During this period, students gain advanced skills to land a job in the industry after graduation or continue their studies by pursuing a doctorate degree.
How Important Is a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
A Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering is important because it provides practical, hands-on experience to create working solutions to environmental issues. Students learn how to use technology to ensure environmental sustainability. It offers specialized knowledge that students need to gain employment in federal government agencies, public interest groups, and environmental consulting firms.
What Types of Master’s Degrees Can You Get in Environmental Engineering?
The types of Master’s Degrees in Environmental Engineering you can get include a Master of Science and a Master of Engineering. A Master of Engineering degree focuses on building practical engineering and business management skills that engineers need to progress in higher business positions. It is usually shorter than a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering.
On the other hand, a Master of Science degree is research-focused and prepares students for research and development roles in the industry or to further their education in the environmental engineering field by getting a doctorate.
Is It Better to Get a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering?
It is better to get a Master of Science if you want to later pursue a doctoral degree or build a career in academia. A Master of Engineering is the better option for people who want to gain hands-on skills and business operations knowledge to land a job in the engineering field.
What Is the Difference Between an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree and an Environmental Engineering Certificate?
The differences between an environmental engineering master’s degree and a certificate in environmental engineering are the cost, duration of study, and credit load. An environmental engineering certificate is a special program that focuses on providing specific knowledge and skills in a given area of environmental engineering. However, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering emphasizes a broader range of academic knowledge.
An environmental engineering certificate has a lower academic tuition fee and course load than a master’s degree. It also takes less than a year to complete.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
A Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering costs around $19,317, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, the cost of schooling mainly depends on the type of school, whether public or private. Prospective students seeking admission to private institutions should expect to spend as high as $27,776.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
It takes two years to get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering with a 30-credit-hour program duration. Depending on the learning pace and college credit requirements, students can complete the program between 18 and 24 months. Students will have to take eight credits per semester to graduate in two years.
How Hard Is It to Get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
It is not very hard to get a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. Compared to other engineering careers, this career path focuses less on advanced mathematics and physics. Instead, it incorporates ecology, biology, soil science, and other environmental concepts.
Why Should You Get an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
You should get an environmental engineering master’s degree because it provides advanced knowledge of environmental engineering concepts and valuable hands-on experience and skills. Upon completion of the program, you will be able to handle the demands of the industry or continue your education in a doctoral program.
Getting a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering can help you qualify for high-paying positions such as an environmental engineer, environmental scientist, and hydrologist, all of which are lucrative options.
What Courses Do You Need to Take in a Master’s Degree Program in Environmental Engineering?
Some of the Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering courses you will need to take are hazardous waste management, air pollution control, water sampling and analysis, and environment geostatistics. The course content of the environmental engineering master’s degree program depends on the school.
Hazardous Waste Management
The hazardous waste management course covers waste management topics, including regulation, generation, storage, classification, and disposal of contaminants. Students learn various methodologies to reduce the impact of hazardous waste.
Air Pollution Control
The air pollution control course explains the types of air pollutants and methods of controlling their emissions into the atmosphere. Students will also learn about the federal and state regulations for air pollution control.
Water Sampling and Analysis
This course introduces students to the techniques of water sampling and analysis. Students learn how to use advanced equipment in the water quality laboratory to analyze water samples and interpret the results in the context of the natural systems from which the samples were extracted.
Environment Geostatistics
This course combines topics from geography, earth science, and ecology. In this course, students will learn how to use geostatistical software to analyze spatial patterns in environmental data. It covers exploratory data analysis, modeling, and estimation.
Advanced Groundwater Hydrology
Hydrogeology is concerned with the flow of water beneath or on the surface of the earth. In this course, you will learn about the fundamentals of groundwater hydraulics, groundwater-surface water relationships, and aquifer flow systems.
Continuing Education Paths for Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Graduates
The best paths to take with an environmental engineering master’s degree include pursuing a doctoral degree in environmental engineering or other related fields. The degree also provides a foundation to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Practice of Engineering exam (PE) to acquire practice licenses by the National Council for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Related Environmental Engineering Degrees
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What to Look For in the Best Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Programs
The things to look for in the best environmental engineering master’s degree programs are accreditation, flexibility and format, graduation rate, employment outcomes, and specialization and concentration options.
Accreditation
Accreditation certifies that a school meets the minimum acceptable academic quality to offer academic programs. It is crucial to inquire about the accreditation status of the school before you begin the application process.
The accreditation status shows the quality of the degree. It can also influence your ability to transfer credits to another school or pursue a doctorate. Accredited degrees are also highly regarded by potential employers.
Flexibility and Format
This depends on how you want to attend the program and whether you want to enroll on a full-time or part-time basis. Prospective students who want to combine schooling with work, family, or other personal commitments need to look out for the flexibility option.
Graduation Rate
Graduation rate tracks the progress of students who enrolled in the environmental engineering master’s degree program to see if they completed the degree within the normal time for completing the program. This information can be easily found on the student’s right-to-know page on the school website. A low graduation rate is a potential red flag.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcomes show the percentage of students that get jobs within a specific period after graduation. If your goal is to improve your employability with the environmental engineering master’s degree, you should ensure that the academic program has a favorable employment outcome value.
Specialization and Concentration
Environmental engineering degrees contain several specializations, including environmental engineering microbiology, environmental management, water and wastewater treatment, air quality, solid waste management, and emission control.
Prospective students should research the specialization or concentration options of the program to see if it contains coursework that can provide a specific area of expertise they are interested in to advance their career.
What Is the Most Affordable Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
The most affordable Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering is the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering offered by the North Carolina State University. It is a 31-credit-hour program with a tuition cost of $11,700 per year for in-state students. Overall, students will have to spend $23,400 to get an environmental engineering master’s degree from this school.
Salary and Job Outlook for Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Graduates
An environmental engineering master’s degree provides the in-demand skills to explore job opportunities in a variety of settings. It offers a well-rounded profile, signifying to potential employers that you have advanced skills to thrive in leadership roles.
How Hard Is It to Get a Job With an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
It is not very hard to get a job with an environmental engineering master’s degree. Environmental engineers have a job outlook of four percent from 2020 to 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Master’s Degree in Environmental Science also helps students to get a job by offering career services such as internship opportunities, collaboration with industry-experienced faculty, exceptional professors, and industry partnerships.
What’s the Average Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Salary?
The average salary for someone with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering is $71,000 per year, according to PayScale. However, the salary for a master’s degree holder depends on several factors such as skills, employer, job role, location, and years of experience in the industry.
What Types of Jobs Can You Get With an Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree?
The jobs you can get with an environmental engineering master’s degree are environmental engineer, environmental consultant, water and wastewater engineer, hydrologist, and engineering manager. Graduates can work in research centers, environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and wastewater treatment plants.
Environmental Engineering Degree Jobs
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Consultant
- Water and Wastewater Engineer
- Hydrologist
- Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Potential Careers With an Environmental Engineering Degree
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How Much Money Can You Make With a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering?
You can make between $59,525 and $116,300 per year with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. The salary varies depending on the industry, location, job title, and years of experience of the person.
Highest-Paying Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Jobs and Salaries: Overview
| Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Director of Environmental Health and Safety | $116,381 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,820 |
| Hydrologist | $84,030 |
| Water and Wastewater Engineer | $67,650 |
| Environmental Consultant | $59,525 |
Best Jobs for Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Grads
This section contains a list of the best environmental engineering master’s degree jobs and related information such as annual salary, job outlook, number of jobs, and highest-paying states.
Environmental engineering master’s degree graduates have gone on to hold positions in several fields such as recycling, consulting, pipeline operations, water and air pollution control, and waste disposal.
Best Jobs According to Your Major
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Is a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering Worth It?
Yes, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering is worth it if you have an interest in developing innovative solutions to protect the environment. It provides professional skills and specialized education to explore career opportunities and land leadership positions in the engineering field. It can also help you launch your career and provide a solid foundation for other environmental engineering graduate programs.
Additional Reading About Environmental Engineering
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Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree FAQ
Yes, environmental engineering is a good career. It is a field that offers opportunities to improve and save human lives. Plus it is a lucrative field with a positive job outlook. As the world looks for new ways to protect the environment, the demand for environmental engineers will increase.
Yes, there are environmental engineering master’s degree scholarships that students can access to alleviate the cost of schooling. Students in accredited schools are eligible for federal funding from the government, like the Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA). They can also research available school scholarships for environmental engineering master’s degree students.
Yes, you can study for an environmental engineering master’s degree online. Some of the schools mentioned in this article offer online graduate engineering programs for distance learners. Other notable online colleges are California State University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Florida.
Yes, there is a demand for environmental engineers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a four percent job outlook with an increase of 1,900 new jobs between 2020 and 2030.
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