Masters in environmental science in USA is a 2-year degree program. MS  in environmental science in USA teaches candidates to deal with issues like pollution, water depletion, waste management, soil erosion, etc. Some of the most popular specialization courses in the MSc Environmental science degree are Environmental Hazards and Management, Environment and Society, Green Chemistry, Environmental Geography, Meteorology and Policy, Agro and Environmental Nematology. The candidate should hold a Bachelor’s Degree(BSc) or its equivalent from a recognized university. The student should have scored a minimum of 50% aggregate. GRE of 290 is a minimum requirement for most universities. Minimum IELTS requirement is 6.0 or 6.5 (overall) and minimum TOEFL requirement is 79 are demanded by most universities. The average tuition fees is around USD 20,000. candidates get a salary of around USD 50,000 per annum. 

Why Study Masters in Environmental Science in USA

Candidates studying masters in Environmental Science in USA has a lot of benifits and reasons to study. Few of them are:

  • Environmental science is a leading and developed field: In the US, environmental science is strongly developed and ranked first in the world.
  • Good quality of Living: The air quality in the United States ranked 9th globally. The United States has a fresh living environment with modern facilities and innovation making the country good for living and studying.
  • Best quality education:: US is the world leader when it comes to the quality of education. In the US, international students not only study a well-designed, meticulous and unique program but also practice alternately throughout the learning process.
  • Huge Career opportunities: Candidates can get jobs at the top companies and institutes after completing the course.

Top Universities for MS in environmental science in USA

There are many universities that provide masters in environmental science in USA. The top universities include:

University Name Course Fees Specialization
University of North Carolina Wilmington 18,548 Environmental Studies - MSc
Western Washington University 23,588 Environmental Studies - MA
Southeast Missouri State University 9,990  Environmental Science - MSc
Texas A&M University 11,536 Environmental Science - MSc
California State University 15,600 Environmental Science - MSc
Portland State University 18,792 Environmental Science And Management Psm - MSc
DePaul University 23,520 Environmental Science - MSc
Western Washington University 23,588 Environmental Studies - MA

Admission Process

The admission process is similar to the masters degree admission for any other subjects or country. There are few basic steps that the candidates need to follow:

  • Candidates must first shortlist the universities that they are willing to apply to. International students must do this atleast 9 months to 1 year prior to the deadline. 
  • Checking the deadline is the next step for the candidsates. All the documents and eligibility must be completed and submitted before the deadline.
  • Candidates must check the eligibility criteria at the official website of the college/ university. 
  • Vist the official website and submit the form along with the necessary documents.
  • Pay the application fee and wait for the college to respons.
  • Once the college responds with the confirmation letter, pay the remaining fees and book a seat.
  • Apply for Visa with the confirmation letter and the payment receipt

Admission Deadline

Most admission process of universities starts during the month of August and Spetember. Candidates need to check the website for details about the admission deadline. 

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need to check the eligibility criteria since it differs as per universities. 

  1. CGPA - Candidates need to have CGPA scores of either 2.25 or above
  2. GRE - GRE of 290 is a minimum requirement for most universities.
  3. Without GRE - Many universities accept the admissions without the GRE scores also.
  4. Letter of Recommendation - 2-3 letters of recommendations that generally come from academic heads, supervisors, and teachers.
  5. Statement of Purpose - Candidates need to explain their purpose in this letter.
  6. English Language Requirement - Minimum IELTS requirement is 6.0 or 6.5 (overall) and minimum TOEFL requirement is 79.

Admission Documents requirement

The mandatory documents required for admission process are:

  • Transcripts
  • Marksheets and pass certificates
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent
  • Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
  • Entrance Exam Scorecards - GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT/ MCAT
  • English Language Proficiency Test Scores
  • Passport
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Cost of Living

The cost of living in USA for pursuing Masters in environmental science in USA is tabulated below:

Expense Type Average Cost
Accommodation 9,800-11,100 USD (INR 8,01,448 - 9,07,763)
Food 290 USD (INR 23,716) per month 
Transportation 350 USD (INR 28,623) per month
Internet 70 USD (INR 5,724) per month
Books 1,200-1,500 USD (INR 98,137- 1,22,671)
Health Insurance 700 USD (INR 57,246)

Masters in Environmental Studies scholarships

There are multiple scholarships available for the students pursuing Masters in environmental science in USA. They are:

  • The Fulbright Foreign Student Program – helps young artists and researchers to study abroad in the USA.
  • Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program – mostly for Master’s level courses but sometimes the foundation also considers applications for PhD programs.
  • Fully-Funded Rotary Peace Fellowships - For International PHD students
  • Fulbright Foreign Student Program in USA - For Masters and PHD international students

For university-specific scholarships, candidates can visit the university’s official website. They can also ask for information about financial aid during the application process.

Jobs after Masters in Environmental Studies

There are multiple jobs that the candidates might land up after doing Masters in environmental science in USA. The average salary of a professional after completing Masters in Environmental Science in USA ranges around USA 65,000. Few jobs and their salary structure are:

  • Environmental Scientist – $58k per year
  • Environmental Project Manager – $69k per year
  • Environmental Consultant – $56k per year
  • Environmental Specialist – $64k per year
  • Environmental Analyst – $54k per year
  • Environmental Engineer – $74k per year
  • Environmental Program Manager – $95k per year
  • Industrial Hygienist – $77k per year
  • Geologist – $72k per year
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst – $65k per year

Top Recruiters for environmental science masters in USA

The top companies hiring candidates after Masters in environmental science in USA are:

  • WSP
  • GHD
  • Environmental Resources Management
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Burns & McDonnell
  • Jacobs
  • Tetra Tech
  • AECOM
  • Arcadis

Work Permit

For studying in USA's top universities for Masters in environmental science in USA, candidates must apply for an F1 visa. It is a non-immigrant visa that enables the students to stay in USA for a limited period of time. The F1 visa has certain requirements that the candidates must fulfil to get the visa. The eligibility for an F1 visa is as follows:

  • Candidates must enrol in a full-time program at a recognized university in US.
  • Must have sufficient funds to study in the United States.
  • Must have ties to the home country so that candidates return to their country after pursuing their courses.

The F1 visa holders can apply for OPT visa extension to get employed as temporary workers in USA. The students can obtain 1 year of authorization for OPT employment before or after completing their studies.

ROI for Masters in environmental science in USA

Average Tuition fees Average Expense Total Average Salary ROI %
20,000 USD 15,000 USD 35,000 USD 55,000 USD 157%

Masters in environmental science in USA allows candidates to pursue further studies. Candidates who pursue this course get a chance to improve the environment and their surrounding. There are a lot of scholarships that candidates get in environmental science masters in USA.