To date, we’ve asked 36 current and past environmental studies students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it average.

The major you choose will have a lasting effect on your career.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a environmental studies degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a environmental studies degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are environmental studies students compared to other degrees?

Overall, environmental studies students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.2 out of 5. This is standard compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, environmental studies students rate their happiness similarly to students in Computer Engineering and Related Studies, Communication and Business Management and Administration.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to environmental studies

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Foreign Languages and Literatures$56,555
Liberal Arts and Humanities$56,697
Business Management and Administration$71,860
Communication$69,809
Environmental Studies$57,965
Computer Engineering and Related Studies$99,640
Public Relations, Advertising, and Communication$64,870
Fine Arts$48,729
Mass Communication and Media Studies$69,524
Criminal Justice and Related Studies$57,677

Let's break that down further.

Are environmental studies students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.2 out of 5 stars
30 ratings
5 stars
43%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
13%
2 stars
7%
1 stars
0%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
3.8 out of 5 stars
34 ratings
5 stars
35%
4 stars
26%
3 stars
29%
2 stars
3%
1 stars
6%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in environmental studies experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did environmental studies graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what environmental studies grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.7 out of 5 stars
34 ratings
5 stars
0%
4 stars
12%
3 stars
53%
2 stars
26%
1 stars
9%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were environmental studies students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.2 out of 5 stars
36 ratings
5 stars
14%
4 stars
25%
3 stars
39%
2 stars
14%
1 stars
8%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

Read about Career Paths