Students who attend the best colleges for environmental science in California are known to have a special love for nature.
However, environmental Science is defined as the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment.
This course enlightens us on the importance of conserving our environment in the face of the increasing human population as well as activities that degrade natural resources and ecosystems.
Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment.
Today it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems especially in the best colleges for environmental science in California.
In this post, I will talk about the best colleges for environmental science in California as stated by Universities.com and other sources.
Check out: 10 Best Agricultural universities in California and their tuition.
List of the best colleges for environmental science in California
Here is the list of the best colleges for environmental science in California:
- University of California-Berkeley
- University of California-Santa Barbara
- University of California-Los Angeles
- University of Southern California
- University of California-Santa Cruz
- University of California-Davis
- San Jose State University
- Santa Clara University
- Occidental College
- University of San Francisco
- San Diego State University
See also: 10 Best Agricultural universities in California and their tuition
# University of California-Berkeley
Tuition: Its in-state tuition and fees: $14,361; out-of-state tuition and fees: $44,115.
200 California Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
The University of California Berkeley or UC Berkeley is a public institution that was founded in the year 1868. It is one of the best colleges for environmental science in California.
It is located in Berkeley, California. This school was the first campus that was built in the University of California System and offers over 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary research groups with the business school, computer engineering, and biological sciences programs ranking in the top nationally.
UC Berkeley has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 32,000 students that take classes according to a semester-based academic calendar.
Prospective students should note that California residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state.
UC Berkeley has a history of student-based political action and discussion and was the centre of the Free Speech Movement, which began in 1964 and fueled opposition to segregation and the Vietnam War.
The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is an impressive 91.9%, thanks in part to the student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1.
UC Berkeley is known for its campus architecture, but the University Botanical Garden also draws international attention with over 10,000 types of plant species.
Beyond academics, UC Berkeley athletic teams, represented by their campus mascot Oski the Bear, compete in the PAC-12 with an annual football rivalry with Stanford.
Notable alumni include U.S. women’s soccer star Alex Morgan, actor Gregory Peck, and the legendary queen of Americana cuisine, Alice Waters.
# University of California-Santa Barbara
5221 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees:$14,442; out-of-state tuition and fees: $44,196.
The University of California-Santa Barbara is one of the best colleges for environmental science in California that offers 2 Environmental Science degree programs.
It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 86 Environmental Science students graduated with students earning 76 Master’s degrees, and 10 Doctoral degrees.
University of California—Santa Barbara is a public institution that was founded in 1909. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,196 (fall 2020), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 989 acres.
It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. The University of California—Santa Barbara’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #28.
# University of California-Los Angeles
405 Hilgard Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1405
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees: $13,268; out-of-state tuition and fees: $43,022.
The University of California Los Angeles or UCLA is a public institution that was founded in 1919, and the total undergraduate enrollment for the class of 2021 was just over 30,000.
UCLA is situated in an urban setting on a campus that takes up over 419 acres in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.
Students at UCLA is one of the best colleges for environmental science in California that take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly a third of the cost that out-of-state students pay, making it a very attractive option for California residents.
UCLA tends to offer large, lecture-style undergraduate classes and boasts a graduation rate that exceeds 90%.
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, California, UCLA is made up of six undergraduate schools, seven professional schools, and four health science programs including a nationally-ranked Arts and Architecture department, School of Medicine, and School of Public Health.
UCLA is a public, nonprofit institution that was founded by Ernest Carroll Moore and Edward Dickson through the expansion of the existing Normal School.
UCLA’s colors are “true blue” and gold, which represent the Pacific Ocean and gold wildflowers that are local to Southern California.
# University of Southern California
University Park
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Tuition: Its tuition and fees: $60,275.
The University of Southern California, also known as USC, is a private research institution founded by Robert Widney in 1880.
Situated in an urban setting just west of downtown Los Angeles, USC has a current undergraduate enrollment of just over 19,000.
USC is very selective in its admission process and is an internationally renowned centre for learning and research. USC’s Trojans compete in the PAC-12 and wear cardinal red and gold.
USC is made up of over twenty undergraduate schools including the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and is known to be one of the best colleges for environmental science in California.
USC operates on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students and out-of-state students exceeds $55,000 annually, before financial aid.
Outside of athletics, USC has a large alumni network in the film industry, with graduates including actors John Wayne, Will Ferrell, Forest Whitaker, and the face of Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton.
USC provides its student body with intimate undergraduate classes that are typically 20 students or fewer, which can be ideal for those that lean towards group learning over the lecture format.
USC is not only known for its strong academic foundation – the school also operates a globally recognized athletic program.
The university has sent student representatives to every Olympic Games since 1912 and has amassed over 250 Olympic medals, which is more than some countries!
# University of California-Santa Cruz
1156 High St
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees: $14,066; out-of-state tuition and fees: $43,820.
The University of California-Santa Cruz offers 1 Environmental Science degree program. It’s a large, public, four-year university in a small city.
In 2019, 29 Environmental Science students graduated with students earning 29 Bachelor’s degrees.
University of California—Santa Cruz is a public institution that was founded in 1965. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,207 (fall 2020), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 2,000 acres.
It is one of the best colleges for environmental science in California that utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. The University of California—Santa Cruz’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #103.
# University of California-Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8678
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees: $14,654; out-of-state tuition and fees: $44,408.
The University of California Davis is a public, land-grant university that was founded in 1959 after 50 years of operating solely as the main agricultural school in the UC system.
UC Davis has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 35,000 and is located just west of Sacramento in the suburban town of Davis.
The surrounding San Joaquin Valley is the agricultural epicentre of the United States, making Davis a prime location for studying farming techniques, crop genetics, and related fields.
UC Davis has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1 and a graduation rate of 84.6%.
UC Davis consists of a Campus Core situated on the university quad, South Campus that’s home to the Mondavi Center and Arboretum Way, and West Campus that is reserved primarily for agricultural research and development.
The school offers over 80 graduate programs through internationally-renowned departments such as the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the UC Davis School of Medicine.
California residents should note that in-state students pay about half what out-of-state students pay for tuition and fees. They are known to be one of the best colleges for environmental science in California.
# San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0001
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees: $7,852; out-of-state tuition and fees: $19,466.
San Jose State University offers 1 Environmental Studies degree program. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large city.
San Jose State University is a public institution that was founded in 1857. It is known also to be one of the top best colleges for environmental science in California.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,702 (fall 2020), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 154 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
San Jose State University’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities West, #22.
# Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Tuition: its tuition and fees: $55,860.
Santa Clara University offers 1 Environmental Studies degree program. It’s a medium-sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city.
In 2019, 23 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 23 Bachelor’s degrees.
Santa Clara University is a private institution that was founded in 1851.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,608 (fall 2020), its setting is a city, and the campus size is 106 acres.
It utilizes a differs by the program-based academic calendar. Santa Clara University’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #55 and that places among the best colleges for environmental science in California.
# Occidental College
1600 Campus Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3392
Tuition: Its tuition and fees: $58,426
Occidental College offers 1 Environmental Studies degree program.
It’s a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 19 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 19 Bachelor’s degrees.
Occidental College is a private institution that was founded in 1887.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,839 (fall 2020), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 120 acres.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
Occidental College’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #42 and that puts in the class of the best colleges for environmental science in California.
# University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton St
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
Tuition: Its tuition and fees: $53,472.
The University of San Francisco is one of the best colleges for environmental science in California that offers 2 Environmental Studies degree programs.
It’s a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 59 Environmental Studies students graduated with students earning 39 Master’s degrees, and 20 Bachelor’s degrees.
The University of San Francisco is a private institution that was founded in 1855.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,852 (fall 2020), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 55 acres.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of San Francisco’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #103.
# San Diegno State University
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92182-0001
Tuition: in-state tuition and fees: $8,136; out-of-state tuition and fees: $20,016.
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School.
It is located just south of Lake Murray in the San Diego metro, SDSU now has over 14 colleges including the Fowler College of Business and the School of Theatre, Television, and Film.
The graduation rate at SDSU is 83%, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 25:1, meaning the 33,000 students can anticipate large lecture-format classes. They are also one of the best colleges for environmental science in California.
SDSU has an endowment of about $300 million and a philanthropic partner in The Campanile Foundation that oversees funding for internal and affiliated university interest groups.
The school has cultivated corporate partnerships with companies like Intel, Microsoft, and KPMG for funding and post-graduation job placement options for qualifying students.
Those interested in studying abroad should note that SDSU has partner programs in Brazil, Mexico, India, and China.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. San Diego State University’s ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #148.
What are the top 5 Environmental Science Careers?
Once you graduate from the best colleges for environmental science in California, you should look out for the following:
- Environmental Scientist
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Biologist
- Environmental Geologist
- Environmental Biotechnologist
What are the Components of Environmental Science?
- Ecology
- Geoscience
- Atmospheric Science
- Environmental Chemistry
What are the importance of Environmental Science?
- To Realize That Environmental Problems are Global.
- To Understand the Impacts of Development on the Environment.
- To Discover Sustainable Ways of Living.
- To Utilize Natural Resources Efficiently.
- To Shed Light on Contemporary Concepts Such as How to Conserve Biodiversity.
- To Learn and Create Awareness About Environmental Problems at Local, National and International Levels.
The environment is an evergreen subject because it matters a lot to our daily lives. It’s where we live, eat, breathe, and bring up our children. Our life support systems entirely rely on the well-being of every organism living on planet earth. There has been a lot of research in recent years on the subject; Environmental Science. Deciding to study in any of the best colleges for environmental science in California is definitely a good idea.
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