by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology is the 103rd most popular major in the country with 7,935 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,074 ecology, evolution & systematics biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major” ranking analyzed 239 colleges that offered 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.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The ecology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree ecology students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Located in Syracuse, New York, this small public school handed out 89 degrees to qualified bachelors’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 239 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Eckerd College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Saint Petersburg, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 80 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Eckerd College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sterling College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major. Craftsbury Common, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Sterling
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Unity College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Unity College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Gloucester, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’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%.
Out of the 239 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado College landed the #5 spot on the list. Colorado College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 31 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Colorado College
Coastal Carolina University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Conway, South Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 117 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Coastal Carolina University
Connecticut College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Connecticut College is a small school located in New London, Connecticut that handed out 23 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Conn College
Principia College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #8. Principia College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elsah, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’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.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Principia
Hawaii Pacific University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Hawaii Pacific University is a small school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 25 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Full Hawaii Pacific University Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
University of Hawaii at Hilo landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Hilo, Hawaii is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 30 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at UH Hilo
With a ranking of #11, Roger Williams University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. RWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bristol, Rhode Island. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at RWU
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Maine Maritime Academy is a small school located in Castine, Maine that handed out 6 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Full Maine Maritime Academy Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Whitman College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. Whitman is a small school located in Walla Walla, Washington that handed out 6 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Whitman College
Keystone College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Keystone College is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Plume, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Keystone College
Kuyper College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #16. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 124 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at UC Santa Cruz
University of Colorado Boulder landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 209 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at CU - Boulder
With a ranking of #18, College of the Ozarks did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major list. Located in Point Lookout, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ecology students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at College of the Ozarks
Hampshire College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #19. Hampshire College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Hampshire College Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. CMU CLAS is located in Fayette, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Thiel College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. This small school is located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Thiel College Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
The University of Tampa came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking. The University of Tampa is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 43 bachelors’s ecology degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.
Full The University of Tampa Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Florida Southern College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #23. Florida Southern is located in Lakeland, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s ecology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology at Florida Southern College
Warren Wilson College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #24. Swannanoa, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 7 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 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Warren Wilson College Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Report
Princeton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Ecology Major ranking, coming in at #25. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ecology degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 Princeton University
Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
