by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major” ranking.
In 2021-2022, 7,935 people earned their degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, making the major the 103rd most popular in the United States. In , ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $35,579 and had an average of $30,950 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major” ranking, we looked at 335 colleges that offer a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology. That schools that top this list have a program in ecology, evolution & systematics biology in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major”.
Out of the 335 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Syracuse, New York, this small public school awarded 119 degrees to qualified ’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 335 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eckerd College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major. Saint Petersburg, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecology degrees to 80 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Eckerd College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 170 ’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sterling College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major. Sterling College is located in Craftsbury Common, Vermont and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Sterling College
Savannah State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. This small school is located in Savannah, Georgia, and it awarded 32 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Savannah State University
Coastal Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Conway, South Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 131 degrees to qualified ’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Coastal Carolina University
Unity College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Unity College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Gloucester, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Unity
With a ranking of #9, Colorado College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. This small school is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and it awarded 31 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Colorado College
Connecticut College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Conn College is located in New London, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 23 ’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Connecticut College
Weill Cornell Medical College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #11. Weill Cornell Medical College is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 17 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Weill Cornell Medical College
University of Providence ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Great Falls, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecology degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at University of Providence
Principia College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Elsah, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecology degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Principia
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Hawaii Pacific University is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 25 ’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Hawaii Pacific University
With a ranking of #15, University of Hawaii at Hilo did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. This small school is located in Hilo, Hawaii, and it awarded 30 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Hawaii at Hilo Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Emory University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecology degrees to 174 students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Emory University
With a ranking of #17, Princeton University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Princeton
Roger Williams University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #18. Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bristol, Rhode Island. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Maine Maritime is a public institution located in Castine, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Maine Maritime
Whitman College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Located in Walla Walla, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Whitman
With a ranking of #21, Keystone College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Keystone College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Plume, Pennsylvania. It awarded 1 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Keystone College Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
With a ranking of #22, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Bayamon, Puerto Rico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecology degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 138 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
University of Miami came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution located in Coral Gables, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 172 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full U Miami Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
University of Colorado Boulder ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 230 ’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full CU - Boulder Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
