1. University of Florida Online
University of Florida Online‘s online sustainability degree is designed to give students a solid grounding in the areas of hydrology, soil science, pest management, water resources, and agricultural ecology. Offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management prepares graduates for careers in various fields in the agricultural, environmental, and natural sciences sectors. In addition to completing all university, college, and general degree requirements, students enrolled in the program will have the opportunity to take a number of core courses along with several approved electives.
- Tuition: $3.876
- Graduation rate: 87%
2. Bellevue University
Bellevue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability Management. This is a fully online sustainability degree that provides students with a flexible path toward a career helping sustain the environment. As an accelerated cohort program, the degree allows students to simplify their study experiences with a course load that’s manageable for busy students. Students register for classes once at the beginning of the program and take one course at a time with the same group of peers online, providing a more collaborative experience and a strong professional network. In addition, the program prepares students for the LEED Green Associate exam, which can help graduates stand out in the building industry.
- Tuition: $6,565
- Graduation rate: 59%
3. University of Massachusetts — Amherst
At the University of Massachusetts — Amherst University Without Walls Degree Completion Program, students can finish their bachelor degree online with a focus on sustainability studies, get a green education, and position themselves for the emerging green economy. Students take classes in the areas of food and farming, business and entrepreneurship, policy and planning, green building, earth science, citizen advocacy, green economics, and public health. The flexible program allows students to design their own program of study in sustainability and to bring in or earn credits for prior coursework, prior learning, and work and life experience.
- Tuition: $11,700
- Graduation rate: 76%
4. Arizona State University
The online Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability at Arizona State University is designed to provide students with the skills to rethink and reinvent a world at risk, and to help create an improved quality of life for future generations. The program explores the social and human aspects of sustainability in the context of real-world issues. Students look at ways to solve challenges of sustainability related to the environment, economy, and society and gain skills through experiential learning, research, community engagement, study abroad, and leadership development. Specializations are available in international development and sustainability, policy and governance in sustainable systems, society and sustainability, and sustainable urban dynamics.
- Tuition: $12,258
- Graduation rate: 67%
5. University of Wisconsin — River Falls
University of Wisconsin — River Falls offers an online Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management. The online sustainability degree provides students with a broad understanding of the intersections among business, natural sciences, and social systems. The program features a curriculum designed with input from industry, faculty with subject-matter expertise and industry experience, personalized mentoring from faculty advisors, and support services including an online writing lab, tech support, and career services. Scholarships are available to incoming students.
- Tuition: $8,064
- Graduation rate: 53%
6. Oregon State University
Oregon State University is recognized worldwide as a premier sustainability and natural resources university, and now students can earn their sustainability degree online in this demanding and popular area of study. Online students receive the same diploma as on-campus students. All classes are developed by Oregon State University’s world-class faculty, who are known worldwide for their research, expertise, and innovation. The Bachelor of Science in Sustainability is available as a double degree online through the Ecampus system, allowing current students to complete this degree program as an addition to their primary degree program. The degree can also be pursued as a post-baccalaureate program or as an online minor.
- Tuition: $11,715
- Graduation rate: 63%
7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences which can be taken on-campus or online. The online sustainability degree is the same degree as taken by on-campus students, only the method of instruction is different. Students have the same world-class professors, courses, and resources as on-campus majors. Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability students can specialize in areas including environmental consulting, sustainability policy, geographic information science, and sustainable business, with a choice of two tracks focusing on either natural or social sciences.
- Tuition: $12,480
- Graduation rate: 85%
8. Prescott College
The Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Management from Prescott College is designed to give students a home for their personal vision of how to design and implement measures that facilitate business goals and enterprise while considering environmental concerns. The program supports the physical environment of their community, the values, practices, and needs of humans who reside there, and the influences of, and access points to, relevant government and private enterprises whose activities affect the well-being of the community. Projects done throughout the program will distill from studies and be designed to address authentic needs in the student’s community. Students may focus on rural or urban settings.
- Tuition: $15,972
- Graduation rate: 67%
9. St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College‘s Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainability Management is designed to help students understand the broad concepts and systems involved in developing and managing sustainable business practices. Students will develop knowledge and management skills in technology, people, economics, and natural and energy resources. Graduates are prepared to be valuable contributors to growing sustainability needs worldwide. The online sustainability degree features eight-week courses, state-of-the-art technology, and learning tools, full-time faculty members with doctorates and industry expertise, and active advisory committee members who make sure students’ skills match industry needs and trends.
- Tuition: $2,682
- Graduation rate: 32%
10. University of Wisconsin — Superior
The University of Wisconsin — Superior‘s sustainable management programs are thoughtfully designed with input from twenty-first-century businesses across the United States. The online sustainability degree prepares students to make the connection between business and organizations, environmental science, and social systems for successful sustainable outcomes and is an ideal choice for adult students who need the flexibility an online program offers. Students with a wide range of work experience and education have found success in the program and are making a difference in the world today.
- Tuition: $8,570
- Graduation rate: 47%
11. Florida International University
The School of Environment, Arts and Society at Florida International University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability and the Environment. The program introduces students to factors that determine the sustainability of human institutions, organizations, cultures, and technologies in different environments. The curriculum addresses the connections between people in their social, natural, and built environment so that students will be able to think holistically about sustainability issues. Interactive technology allows students to watch lectures, get real-time feedback from instructors, and collaborate with classmates on projects. The program also provides each student with a personal success coach to give them one-on-one guidance.
- Tuition: $23,376
- Graduation rate: 72%
12. Penn State World Campus
Our global economy relies heavily on an abundant and consistent supply of energy. Within the last decade, new employment opportunities have emerged as we witness a worldwide power shift toward a more sustainable way of life. With a Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Policy (ESP) from Penn State World Campus, you can gain the knowledge and skills to research, analyze, and communicate diverse information about emerging global trends in energy policy, technologies, and economics.
- Tuition: $590/$632 per credit
- Graduation rate: 73%
13. Wilmington University
Wilmington University‘s online sustainability degree prepares students for rewarding green careers as environmental scientists, specialists, consultants, policy analysts, educators, writers, or park ranger. The fully online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy gives students the option to learn when and where they choose without sacrificing any hands-on learning. Students receive extensive lab kits for home preparation along with close guidance from faculty who are active practitioners. Small class sizes ensure valuable interaction between students and instructors. The program focuses on critical thinking and hypothesis testing, as well as scholarly writing and the use of scientific and digital tools in problem solving.
- Tuition: $11,430
- Graduation rate: 50%
14. University of Wisconsin — Parkside
The University of Wisconsin — Parkside‘s flexible online sustainability degree emphasizes students achieving a triple bottom line that integrates profit, people, and the planet. Students learn to implement sustainable business practices that boost the triple bottom line, study under top faculty, and gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. The online learning format offers students, including working adults, a flexible, convenient way to pursue their degree. Students have ready access to success coaches and faculty by phone and email and can take advantage of on-campus resources such as career assistance and libraries.
- Tuition: $7,443
- Graduation rate: 24%
15. Everglades University
Everglades University offers an online Bachelor of Science Degree in Alternative and Renewable Energy Management. The program focuses on the management skills and business knowledge required for the continually changing environment of the energy industry in construction management. The curriculum provides instruction in management skills, as well as technical and occupational subjects including alternative and renewable energy management, energy storage, and safety in construction.
- Tuition: $17,520
- Graduation rate: 56%
16. Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University‘s sustainability studies program focuses on the “Three Es” of sustainability — environment, economy, and equity. The online program prepares graduates to tackle the sustainability problems of the 21st century. Using insights and analytic methods from science, policy, and environmental justice, students explore natural and social ecosystems, recognize national and international implications of sustainability issues, and apply their knowledge on behalf of campus and community projects.
- Tuition: $31,493
- Graduation rate: 61%
17. Maryville University
Students of Maryville University‘s online Bachelor of Science in Sustainability study sustainability through interdisciplinary, experiential learning with expert faculty. Students study theory, ethics, and stewardship in an online classroom environment. The program offers unique real-world projects and experiences, including experiential work, case studies, and other hands-on learning opportunities. Students can build experience and see their sustainability knowledge in action through a choice of a comprehensive capstone project or an internship in the field.
- Tuition: $24,766
- Graduation rate: 40%
18. Liberty University
Liberty University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Green and Sustainable Management. The program is offered online in an 8-week course format. The curriculum is designed to provide students who have a passion for protecting the environment with the skills, knowledge, and tools that are essential to impact the world of environmental sustainability.
- Tuition: $23,800
- Graduation rate: 34%
Still looking for an online sustainability degree or a master’s in sustainability degree? Use our Degree Finder tool to help you find the right fit.
Our Ranking Methodology
To determine how to rank each college, we researched and evaluated each school’s estimated annual cost of tuition and four-year graduation rate. We used in-state and online tuition rates where available. We took annual tuition rates directly from each school’s website and graduation data from Google. We sorted each school first by the cost of tuition (lower is better) and then by graduation rate (higher is better), letting each value make up equal portions (50%) of the final rankings. Where schools were tied in the rankings, we gave additional weight to the cost of tuition.
If you work for one of the schools we ranked and you notice an error in the information we used to rank you, please feel free to contact us and let us know so we can make a correction.
