2026 Best Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Sustainability Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 278 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Columbia University In The City Of New York, our #1 Sustainability Science school in the United States. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $18,070 to complete their Sustainability Science program here. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Washington University In St Louis came in at #2 on this year's Sustainability Science ranking in the United States. Based in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. The median Sustainability Science program debt is $17,553. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on this year's Sustainability Science ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Champaign, IL. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Out of the 278 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Georgia landed the #4 spot. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,033 to complete their Sustainability Science program here. See the full University Of Georgia profile
A rank of #5 makes University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Norman, OK, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete their Sustainability Science program here. Read more about University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Based in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
West Virginia University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Based in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. More on West Virginia University
Texas State University San Marcos did well this year, earning the #8 position. Read the full report on Texas State University San Marcos
University Of Idaho landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Idaho profile
Chatham University placed #10 among Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Chatham University
Keene State College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read more about Keene State College
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. More on Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. See the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus profile
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
The New School
The New School did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on The New School
Chandler Gilbert Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Michigan State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Get the full Michigan State University report
Regis College
Regis College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. See the full Regis College profile
University Of Wisconsin Parkside placed #19 among Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Parkside report
Indiana University Southeast did well this year, earning the #20 position. More on Indiana University Southeast
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science came in at #21 in this year's ranking. See the full Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science profile
Mesa State College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. More on Mesa State College
Oral Roberts University did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Oral Roberts University
Johns Hopkins University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Johns Hopkins University report
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Estrella Mountain Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Sustainability Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Pensacola State College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Pensacola State College
Allegheny College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Allegheny College
Auburn University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. More on Auburn University
Georgetown University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Georgetown University
Northwestern University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Read the full report on Northwestern University
Cornell University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. More on Cornell University
Temple University did well this year, earning the #32 position. More on Temple University
Southern Oregon University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. More on Southern Oregon University
Guilford College
Guilford College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Guilford College report
University Of Chicago ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Chicago
Iowa State University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. See the full Iowa State University profile
University Of Denver landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Denver
Phoenix College
Phoenix College placed #38 among Sustainability Science schools in the United States. See the full Phoenix College profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
Unity College
Unity College placed #40 among Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read more about Unity College
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Utah State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Utah State University profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Furman University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Sustainability Science schools. Read the full report on Furman University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #46 among Sustainability Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Suny College At Brockport did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Suny College At Brockport
Arizona State University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Arizona State University
Madonna University came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Madonna University
Related Sustainability Science Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Sustainability Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Sustainability Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sustainability Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sustainability Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Sustainability Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Sustainability Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Sustainability Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 278 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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