2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sustainability science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for sustainability science in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $39,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Mountain College earned it the #2 place for sustainability science. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $31,734. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in sustainability science will find it at Florida International University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $17,379 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $28,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #4 place for sustainability science. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,836. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #5 place for sustainability science. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $30,548. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University came in at #6 for value in sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $51,750. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $19,500. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $50,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Coastal Carolina University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $27,174 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $38,272. Set against $27,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Montclair State University placed #9 among the best values for sustainability science. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $41,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of California Riverside placed #10 among the best values for sustainability science. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,045. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $30,698 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,045 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Utah ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $30,229. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #12 for value in sustainability science this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $21,813. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #13 position for value in sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $21,861. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #14 position for value in sustainability science this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,205 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $59,089. That is a strong return on a $24,205 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #15 for value in sustainability science this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $58,084. That is a strong return on a $23,138 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $58,534. Set against $21,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Geneseo ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,999, while out-of-state students pay about $19,569. Students borrow a median of $20,976 to complete the sustainability science program here. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Suny At Geneseo generally make around $37,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for sustainability science. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Iowa State University came in at #19 for value in sustainability science this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $23,495. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $53,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Western Washington University placed #20 among the best values for sustainability science. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Students borrow a median of $19,086 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $41,600. That is a strong return on a $19,086 median debt. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
Stony Brook University placed #21 among the best values for sustainability science. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,537. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University earned the #22 position for value in sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $13,975. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $77,997. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $22,859. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $49,826. That is a strong return on a $22,859 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
George Mason University landed the #24 spot for sustainability science value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $39,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #25 spot for sustainability science value this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $18,636 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $35,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 40 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in sustainability science:
Other Sustainability Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Sustainability Science rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 278 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sustainability science education at a price that pays off.
