Earth Day 2026: 5 Colleges With Online Sustainability Majors
Key Takeaways
- Sustainability majors earn competitive salaries while helping with sustainability efforts in a variety of professional settings.
- You can enter into a sustainability career with just a bachelor’s degree.
- Our list of sustainable bachelor’s and master’s programs can be completed entirely online.
Sustainability majors are more than just environmental science. They’re built to give you the skills you need in the modern workplace while allowing you to advocate for the environment in your work.
Check out where you can earn your sustainability degree completely online.
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What Is a Sustainability Major?
A sustainability major can be a B.S. or B.A. that gets you the skills you need to make an impact on or advocate for the environment within your career. These majors are typically interdisciplinary and can involve classes like:
- Sustainable energy technology and systems
- Natural resource policy and management
- Leadership communication for sustainability professionals
- Environmental science
- Environmental sociology
- Sustainability, justice, and engagement
A sustainability major prepares students for careers in the sciences, such as engineering and analysis, business leadership, public policy and government, and city planning and sociology.
With just a bachelor’s degree, you can launch your career in sustainability fields like:
- Business
- Civil engineering
- Park naturalism
- Public policy
- Urban planning
Salaries are competitive — for example, the average base salary for an entry-level sustainability engineer earns about $78,000 per year, according to Payscale. If you want to go even further, you can pursue a master’s degree such as a master of business administration (MBA), or pursue a professional degree in a field like environmental law.
5 Colleges With Online Sustainability Majors
We found five colleges offering sustainability bachelor’s and master’s degrees that you can complete entirely from home. We chose our colleges based on how impactful these degrees are for leading to sustainable careers and practices in fields like business, government, policy, engineering, and other fields where you can directly impact the environment.
Arizona State University
If you’re looking to go to a top sustainable university, ASU consistently ranks within the top five overall Times Higher Education sustainability impact rankings for the U.S. By taking this program, you’ll learn the math and science behind environmental resources, technology, and environmental guidelines. ASU says the program prepares you for careers in policy, governance, international development, and more business-oriented roles.
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainability
- Undergraduate degree
- Fully online
- Economics of sustainability, sustainable ecosystems, sustainable energy, materials, and technology
- Other related degrees: B.A. in Business – Sustainability; B.A. in Sustainability
- You can earn admission to ASU if you do not meet eligibility requirements
- Online tuition and fees are $3,527 per semester
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s master’s degree in natural resources is best for working professionals with a bachelor’s degree who want to further their education at the intersection of sustainability and careers like business, civil society, and government. At Virginia Tech you’ll enjoy smaller class sizes and instruction from active practitioners in their fields.
- Master of Natural Resources
- Graduate degree
- Fully online asynchronous
- Biodiversity and ecosystems, climate resilience, environmental policy, environmental sustainability, urban ecosystems, water and marine systems
- Opportunity to participate in a 10-day study abroad program
Purdue University Global
Purdue’s B.S. in sustainability best serves students who want to pursue an accelerated path into their master’s degree. Students can take master’s classes as part of their bachelor’s degree to get ahead and save money.
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainability
- Undergraduate degree
- Fully online
- Decision management, economics, environmental science, health sciences, social issues, supply chain and logistics, sustainable hospitality
- Military tuition reduction and credit for military experience
- Try classes for three weeks no cost
- $371 per credit
Oregon State University
Oregon State’s complementary bachelor’s degree is for students who have already earned their bachelor’s degree or are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at OSU. The degree is meant to pair with other degrees, such as business, engineering, and natural sciences.
- Bachelor of Science in Sustainability
- Postbaccalaureate undergraduate degree
- Fully online
- Human impacts on ecosystems, sustainable supply chain management, environmental sociology, natural resource economics, sustainable communities, carbon and greenhouse gas management
- Certificate and microcredential opportunities
- Honors degree opportunity
- $384 per credit
Virginia Wesleyan University
VWU’s program is the most business-oriented program on our list. This program best fits you if you want to dive into sustainable business practices as a company leader, consultant, or lawyer with expertise in environmental law.
- Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Management
- Undergraduate degree
- Fully online
- Corporate sustainability, environmental counseling, environmental law
- Military-friendly, Yellow Ribbon School
- No standardized test requirements
- $410 per credit
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Sustainability Majors
An online sustainability major are typically interdisciplinary programs that integrate environmental knowledge and practices into other fields such as business, STEM fields, public policy, and law. These majors are for students looking to make an environmental impact in their field by advocating or implementing best practices.
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