### SUMMARY

 Studying Environmental Design is a valuable choice and often a necessary first step for undergrads trying to enter a career as a sustainability consultant, an environmental designer, or an energy engineer. In fact, nationally, environmental design is a very rare major ranking as the 259th most popular degree. In the last year, there were 591 environmental design graduates. In-state tuition for environmental design at private schools is, on average, 4.5 times more expensive than their public fellows.

 With just 34 schools having programs for this degree there might be a smaller selection of institutions you can choose from. If you're hoping to surround yourself with other environmental design students, consider looking at schools in Colorado which have the most students admitted to environmental design annually. More generally, the top region to get a degree in environmental design is in the Rocky Mountains region with [University of Colorado Boulder](/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) and [Utah State University](/colleges/utah-state-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection for the top conference to major in environmental design is the Pacific-12 Conference with [Arizona State University-Tempe](/colleges/arizona-state-university-tempe), [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), and [University of Colorado Boulder](/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) representing the conference. That said, our selection for the best school for environmental design is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley). You might also want to check out our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The overall best school does not have to be the 'best' school for you. There are a bunch more angels to think about when deciding on ​university. External stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food could definitely modify your decision of where to go to university. At authority.org, we've evaluated the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which environmental design school is home to the top campus, the winner is [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick). If, for example, you are very interested in which university boasts the finest campus, we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, government databases, professor reviews, and more in order to evaluate every major in the United States in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our well researched list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our selection of the school with the best student life for environmental design is [Massachusetts College of Art and Design](/colleges/massachusetts-college-of-art-and-design). Are you curious why? Continue reading to learn more about our top selections. Some of our picks might shock you.

 If expense is a major deciding factor in your decisions, you might consider avoiding [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art). [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art)&nbspappears to be our most expensive school for environmental design, at least for out of state students. We have an entire page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that might put the cost of [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you might want to know that environmental design is the 266th most expensive major in the nation, with an average associated cost of $26,200. To zoom out a little, the most expensive state for environmental design in the country is Maryland demonstrated with a cost of $48,510 at Maryland Institute College of Art. Even more broadly, the most costly region of the U.S. for environmental design is the Far West region which is best demonstrated with [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) with a cost of $41,196, [Otis College of Art and Design](/colleges/otis-college-of-art-and-design) with a cost of $45,200, and [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/colleges/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa) with a cost of $33,336.

 Our cheapest region for environmental design is the Great Lakes region which is represented by [Bowling Green State University-Main Campus](/colleges/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus) with a cost of $17,267. In better news, the most affordable college for environmental design is [University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras](/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-rio-piedras). Our full list of the most affordable universities can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state learners can anticipate paying about $10,900 for a degree in environmental design. That cost grows by a lot to an average of $27,000 for the out-of-state public-school undergrad. On that note, our pick for the college representing the best value for environmental design: [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley). On this page you can see our comprehensive list about the colleges we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. Do know, this section is predicated on out-of-state tuition costs. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition costs are considered, but as we do not know what state(s) you might qualify for in-state tuition, we are approaching this discussion through out-of-state tuition costs.

 Earnings for environmental design majors differ widely, but within two years leaving college graduates will typically make around $58,900. There is much variation in earnings; highest paid earners can rake in up to $88,200. Right out of university, the minimum earning opportunities within the environmental design field make $39,100, which isn't that bad. The highest earning grads for environmental design have come from [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley)&nbspand if you are looking for colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The overall diversity of environmental design ranks high, coming within the 80th percentile of majors nationally. The college with the highest composite diversity for environmental design is [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the schools with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of Environmental Design ranks only within the 52nd percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, in the 76th percentile. White collegians make up the largest proportion, 52%, of those studying environmental design. Additionally, 50% of scholars pursuing an environmental design major are women.

 The median ranking of environmental design professors is 4 stars, a rating that is exactly the average across all majors; this is a fine. If you are looking for the most popular environmental design professor in the country, look no further than Crispin Pierce at [University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire](/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire). It might surprise you, but the top rated instructors of environmental design from student rankings are found at [University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire](/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire). As we including data other than just rankings we find that the college with the overall best professors for environmental design is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley). You can find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as many of the top professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult college to get into for environmental design is [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley). While we think of this list more as a novelty, we have a comprehensive list of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). Although, here at Authority we hope you believe that considering higher education through a lens primarily formed from superlatives could be said to be the root of many of higher education's fundamental issues. We at Authority encourage you to explore our other pages on different universities and peruse a couple of our insightful background pages on important things to think about as you continue your college search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Environmental design is the 259th most popular degree in America, with 591 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #260 [Office Management and Supervision](/rankings/best-colleges-for-office-management-and-supervision), and narrowly lost to #258 [Theatre Design and Technology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-theatre-design-and-technology).

 The degree is offered at a total of 34 colleges across the nation, and is the 323rd most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 4% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that 82% of colleges offering environmental design are public making it a very accessible field.

 The rocky mountains produces the most environmental design graduates, largely led by [University of Colorado Boulder](/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder), while it’s the Pacific-12 Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Colorado ranks highest, with particular help from [University of Colorado Boulder](/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) and [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](/colleges/university-of-colorado-denver-anschutz-medical-campus), which graduated 140 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study environmental design). More students studied environmental design as a percentage of total students at [Otis College of Art and Design](/colleges/otis-college-of-art-and-design) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Environmental design is the 266th most expensive degree in the United States, with a median cost of $26,192 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #267, [Urban Planning](rankings/best-colleges-for-urban-planning), with a median cost of $26,138).

 The Far West has the most expensive colleges with top-notch environmental design programs led by [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) with an annual cost of $41,196. Maryland is the most expensive state for environmental design led by [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art).

 Public schools with good programs by and large charge 77.95% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 45.24% less than your average private school. So be sure to take a look at public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most expensive top 25 college for environmental design is [Maryland Institute College of Art](/colleges/maryland-institute-college-of-art), which is the 148th most expensive college in America. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras](/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-rio-piedras). It costs just $5,952 per year, and it is its environmental design program is ranked #17. Another more affordable choice would be #20, [University of Memphis](/colleges/university-of-memphis) in Shelby County, TN with a cost of $8,208 for in-state students and $12,048 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Begining college is a large investment for most. It's critical to have confidence you are able to payback your investment. We hope the following career and earnings information help you in deciding your focus at college.

 The average Environmental Design major earns a starting income of $41,451 per annum (close to national median 43rd percentile). Later on in their careers, they can make as much as $88,161 down to $39,142, but average about $58,930. Just so you know, that is 53% more than the nation wide average.

 The most popular job placement for an Environmental Design graduate is Engineer, which ordinarily make near $59,000; next are Inside Sales Representative and Consultant, which generally earn about $26,000 and $56,000 respectively.

 The highest grossing region for Environmental Design graduates is New England. MA has the best paid Environmental Design graduates of any state.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Environmental Design: Median Professor Rating: 4 / 5, which is below average.

 Professors always have a big impact your college experience, regardless of your primary focus. An effective professor could help a student find their passion and set a student up for future success. On the other hand, an unpleasant professor can interrupt your development or even worse... fail you!

 Environmental Design professors have a median student rating of 4 out of 5, which puts these professors in the top 69th percentile in America based on overall professor effectivness. Suprisingly, this major is exactly the median for professor rating, which, in our opinion, is remarkably average! Environmental Design professors slightly out-ranked those from ["Soil Sciences"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-soil-sciences), whereas ["Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-fiber-textile-and-weaving-arts)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Environmental Design.

 Now for some statistics about Environmental Design professors. Colleges located in large citys tend to have the best Environmental Design professors. The Big West Conference has the highest rated Environmental Design professors. The Far West region has the highest rated Environmental Design professors. Public schools tend to have higher rated Environmental Design professors than private universities. Finally, California has the highest rated Environmental Design professors in the nation.

 Crispin Pierce, professor at [University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire](/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-eau-claire)&nbspin Eau Claire, WI is the most popular Environmental Design professor in America. Pedro Medrano, instructor at [California State University-Northridge](/colleges/california-state-university-northridge)&nbspin Northridge, CA is the highest rated Environmental Design professor in the US, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which schools have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often is an incredibly formative investment in one's life; it is a time for personal progress and expansion. Scholars attempt to realize their purpose and forge many of the necessary skills to become a flourishing adult. But growth is more than sitting in a classroom environment - the campus dialogue, the nugget of wisdom received from an eccentric professor, the exposure to a different way of viewing the world. As such, a diverse student population greatly enhances what one gains from the time in university.

 Environmental Design is a more racially diverse major than average\*. 52% of the nation's Environmental Design majors are white students, followed by latino students (20%), students of other races\*\*(18%), and asian students (7%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Massachusetts College of Art and Design](/colleges/massachusetts-college-of-art-and-design) located in Boston, MA.

 Second, Environmental Design is pretty highly diverse regarding sex, with 50% of students majoring in Environmental Design identifying as women. [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus) in Albuquerque, NM has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another critical type of diversity is wealth diversity. Environmental Design ranks close to average for financial diversity (48th percentile). 30% of its majors come from homes that make less than $30,000 a year, 17% are from households earning between $30,000 and $48,000 a year, and 24% grew up in families that make more than $110,000 a year. [Utah State University](/colleges/utah-state-university) has the most fiscally diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall FL is the most diverse state for Environmental Design. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the America East is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 7%
* Black: 4%
* Latino: 20%
* White: 52%
* Other: 18%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 50%
* Female: 50%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 30%
* 30k - 48k: 17%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 14%
* Over 110k: 24%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 74%
* Out of State: 20%
* International: 6%


Carnegie Mellon University

University of California-Berkeley

Cornell University

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

University at Buffalo

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University of California-Davis

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

University of Colorado Boulder

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Auburn University

University of Houston

Stony Brook University

Utah State University

Miami University-Oxford

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Lawrence Technological University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

University of Memphis

Florida Atlantic University

Ball State University

Search for the best Environmental Design colleges according to your filter parameters.

2023 Environmental Design Salary

There are about 1,306 students enrolled in Environmental Design in the USA.

SALARY