The Best Online Bachelor’s in Sustainability Programs

FIU's online bachelor's in sustainability and the environment program teaches students an in-depth understanding of the proper management and conservation of natural resources. Participants explore the political, societal, and business aspects of sustainability.

All learning takes place online using an asynchronous format. The curriculum covers topics like sustainable resource development, natural resource economics, and the ecology of south Florida. Students may earn a combined BA/MA in environmental studies, allowing them to work toward both degrees at an accelerated rate.

Applicants must provide their high school transcripts or GED scores, along with their ACT or SAT scores. Transfer students must submit their official college transcripts. The average undergraduate leaves FIU with less than $20,000 in student loan debt.

OSU's online bachelor's degree in sustainability prepares the next generation of leaders to address issues related to climate change, natural resource management, renewable energy, and environmentally friendly product development.

The program serves as an add-on pathway, allowing students to pair it with their primary degree. Business administration and political science majors, for example, frequently enroll in the sustainability program to build their knowledge in multiple disciplines. The curriculum features courses on building sustainable communities, state and federal environmental policy, social impacts of sustainability, and how humans affect ecosystems.

Eligible applicants must hold a bachelor's degree. All online students pay the same tuition, even if they reside out of state. OSU is located in Corvallis.

Located just outside Omaha, Nebraska, BU delivers an online bachelor's degree in sustainability management focused on managing energy, land, water, solar, and wind resources.

The 127-credit program includes three Kirkpatrick Signature Series classes that examine the concepts of American values, tradition and change, and freedom and responsibility. Students also explore the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system and how construction and renovation projects qualify for certification.

Eligible applicants must possess at least one year of experience in a science or engineering field or have completed two or more college-level natural science classes. Prospective students also need to submit their official high school and/or college transcripts.

In-state and out-of-state residents pay the same tuition. The university offers a discounted rate to active-duty military members.

Featuring an industry-driven curriculum, UWRF's online BS in sustainable management teaches students broad knowledge about natural science, social systems, and the business world. Graduates leave prepared to take on leadership roles in sustainability-focused businesses and organizations.

Students engage in subjects like systems thinking, triple bottom line accounting, and sustainable agriculture. One noteworthy course explores how logistics and supply chain organizations can develop a sustainable competitive advantage through technology, sound processes, and flexibility.

Incoming students to this bachelor's in sustainability program must hold an associate degree or ample college-level credits earned with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Applicants should also have completed prerequisite college classes in biology, communication, math, and statistics.

All coursework takes place online using an asynchronous format. In-state and out-of-state distance learners pay the same tuition.

Students in UW-Superior's online bachelor's in sustainability program learn how to incorporate conservation and resource management into businesses, nonprofits, and the public sector.

All learning takes place online using an asynchronous format, although students maintain strong virtual connections with faculty, advisors, and their fellow learners. The program features 63 total credits with courses focused on the natural environment, business, and people.

The school's membership in the University of Wisconsin System means students benefit from the expertise of instructors at the system's Green Bay, Oshkosh, Parkside, River Falls, and Stout campuses. Graduates can move into UW-Superior's master's in sustainability program. Applicants to this bachelor's track must possess at least 60 college credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA.

UMass Amherst offers an online bachelor's degree in sustainable food and farming that prepares students for careers related to environmentally responsible agriculture. The program features courses on food systems, whole-farm production, agricultural marketing, sustainable community development, and policy.

All learning takes place online, and students can choose from a variety of electives based on their interests. Distance learners pay the same tuition, even if they live outside Massachusetts.

To enter this bachelor's in sustainability program, students must possess a minimum 2.7 college GPA. Program staff also consider factors like students' work experience, military service, and personal and professional goals when making admissions decisions. In a 2016 survey, more than 96% of UMass Amherst graduates said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience at the school.

Liberty offers an online bachelor's in business administration with a concentration in green and sustainable management. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, this program includes classes on geographic information systems, renewable energy resources, and environmental science and policy.

Faculty deliver eight-week courses in an asynchronous format. The program comprises 120 credits, and most full-time students graduate within 3.5 years. The school also allows students to transfer in up to 75% of their total credits. Many graduates of this bachelor's in sustainability program go on to pursue an online MBA at the university.

Qualified applicants must hold a minimum 2.0 GPA. All distance learners pay the same tuition rates. Liberty is located in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Located in Chicago, RU offers a bachelor's degree in sustainability studies that can be completed online. Students explore the intersection of natural and social ecosystems while examining how local, state, and federal policy affects sustainability and the environment.

In one course, students look at how postsecondary institutions maximize sustainability through a variety of methods. Another class focuses on sustainable urban planning.

The school's campus features LEED Gold buildings, while its virtual courses use an asynchronous format that allows students to complete their assignments largely on their own schedules. Students who live in the Chicagoland area may take advantage of internships and research opportunities at regional urban farms, museums, and nature centers.

Students may join this bachelor's in sustainability program in the fall, spring, or summer.

UW-Parkside offers an online bachelor's completion program in sustainable management. The 63-credit curriculum builds students' knowledge related to sustainable business practices, systems thinking approaches, and communicating sustainability issues to various audiences.

The program can be completed entirely online and courses are delivered asynchronously. Nonetheless, learners maintain strong connections with faculty and peers through online discussion boards.

Students enrolled in this bachelor's in sustainability program take 21 major-related courses, including a capstone in which they work with a local business. One of the program's newer courses — climate change and sustainability — explores how human and natural factors influence climate change and how businesses, organizations, and public agencies can reduce carbon emissions.

Students learn from experienced instructors serving throughout the University of Wisconsin System. Applicants should hold an associate degree or at least 60 college-level credits.

Students pursuing SPC's online bachelor's degree in sustainability prepare themselves to serve as leaders in the "green collar" jobs of the future. The program features mostly eight-week courses, although some electives are delivered over 16-week terms. Students also participate in an internship, during which they learn directly from experienced professionals and take on projects of their own.

Through the curriculum, students learn about grant writing, Six Sigma project management, and sustainable business practices. Students also present a capstone project before graduation.

Eligible applicants must possess at least 60 credits of college credits earned with a minimum 2.0 GPA; many students transfer into this program after earning an associate degree in building design and construction management or engineering technology at SPC. All distance learners pay the same tuition, even if they live out of state.