Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental & Sustainability Studies

Bachelor of Arts
Environmental and Sustainability
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Turn sustainability ideas into real-world impact—across engineering, science, policy, and communities worldwide—with a degree in environmental and sustainability studies.

At a Glance

Proven Career Success

Average Starting Salary: $68,232*

Notable Employers: Stantec, CDM Smith, Applied Materials, Cytiva, Boston Dynamics**

*WPI Class of 2025 First Destination Survey **WPI First Destination Survey (2021–25)

Application Deadlines

Early Decision/Early Action I: Nov. 1 

Early Decision/Early Action II: Jan. 5 

Regular Decision: Feb. 1 

Explore This Degree

Options

Customize Your Path

Your WPI degree is yours to shape. Complement your major with a minor, or choose electives that interest you. Expand your studies with a double major. Common double major pairings with this degree include environmental engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and biology. 

Take your education even further by continuing into one of WPI’s graduate programs to deepen your expertise. 

Potential Minors

Sustainability Engineering | Data Science | Business | Entrepreneurship

 

View All Minors

Undecided? No problem. Apply now and explore before committing to a specific path. 

13:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio 

270+

Student Clubs and Organizations

92%

Of First-Year Students Return for Their Sophomore Year (2026)

WPI Difference

What You’ll Do as an Environmental & Sustainability Studies Student at WPI

Our project-based degree in environmental and sustainability studies prepares you for the industry and challenges of tomorrow.  

Through distinctive seven-week terms and intensive project work, you’ll:

Integrate

environmental science, social science, policy, and systems thinking

Analyze

environmental problems through sustained, multifaceted investigation

Tackle

sustainability challenges with communities on campus and around the world

BUILD

a professional portfolio of completed projects at one of our 50+ project centers worldwide

CUSTOMIZE

your expertise by choosing a mix of electives or a concentration to match your interests

Collaborate

with teams across disciplines to develop solutions for today’s complex challenges

Resources & Tech You’ll Tap Into

Students examining freshwater mussel samples, one looking through a stereo microscope

Global Water Resource Center

Bring together students from science, environmental studies, business, and policy to study water from source to use and lead sustainability initiatives on campus, in local towns, and abroad.
Learn more about the Global Water Resource Center
Two students standing beside a concrete canoe in an engineering lab

Institute of Science and Technology for Development

Partner with communities, nonprofits, and governments worldwide to co-create sustainable, policy-oriented solutions to environmental challenges.
Learn more about the Institute of Science and Technology for Development
Students measuring a building foundation with a tape measure during an international project

WPI’s Worldwide Project Center Network

Complete environmental and global sustainability projects on topics from clean-water access and sanitation to renewable energy, land conservation, and environmental justice.
Learn More About the Global Projects Program

Research Opportunities 

  • Water quality, contamination, and sustainability
  • Environmental policy and governance
  • Community and global development
  • Resource recovery, recycling, and the circular economy
  • Renewable energy and climate
  • Environmental justice and public health

Project-Based Learning Experiences

Apply environmental and sustainability studies theory and practice from day one. Build a professional portfolio with work that matters.

At WPI, learn in an immersive environment where classroom concepts transform into hands-on projects, thanks to our intensive, seven-week terms. Complete increasingly advanced projects for industry partners and community organizations, both local and global. Present your solutions directly to organizations that will implement what you create.  

Below, explore projects completed by environmental and sustainability studies students at WPI.

Student in a safety vest holding up a 360-degree camera on a wooded coastal trail
Global

📍Berlin, Germany

Freshwater Health Education at Lake Stechlin — Students created education resources on freshwater health and water sustainability for a German lake research institute.

Global

📍Akyem Dwenase, Ghana

Community Recycling System in Rural Eastern Ghana — Students co-designed a community recycling and waste-management system with residents of rural eastern Ghana.

Local

📍Chelsea, Mass.

Mapping Environmental Injustice in Chelsea — Students mapped environmental hazards and injustice with a Massachusetts city’s housing and community development office.

Local

📍Fitchburg, Mass.

Teaching the Nitrogen Cycle Through Games — Students designed public outreach and a game to teach the nitrogen cycle for a local youth organization.

Industry

📍Worcester, Mass.

Bringing ESG Practices to a Construction Company — Students developed a road map for integrating environmental, social, and governance practices into a major construction company, with Turner Construction.

Industry

📍Worcester, Mass.

PFAS Alternatives for the Outdoor Apparel Industry — Students investigated “forever chemical” PFAS use and safer alternatives across the outdoor-apparel industry.

Skills & Salary

Skills You’ll Gain

With WPI’s degree in environmental and sustainability studies, you’ll connect engineering, science, policy, and people to tackle environmental challenges—turning complex problems into solutions that work for communities and the planet.

Explore opportunities to build skills such as:

Sustainability & Systems Analysis

 

Apply systems thinking to map how natural, social, and economic factors connect, identifying leverage points where small changes create lasting environmental impact.

Conduct life-cycle assessments and track sustainability metrics to measure the true environmental footprint of products, processes, and community decisions.


 

Environmental Policy & Justice

 

Analyze environmental regulations and policy frameworks to evaluate how decisions affect ecosystems and communities, especially those facing the heaviest burdens.

Investigate environmental justice issues through hands-on research, connecting scientific evidence to fair outcomes for underserved and frontline populations.


 

Environmental Data & GIS

 

Map and analyze spatial data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visualize pollution, land use, and climate patterns across landscapes.

Collect and interpret field data through environmental sampling and monitoring, transforming raw observations into evidence that supports better decisions.


 

Technical Leadership & Communication

 

Lead interdisciplinary teams on projects at WPI’s global and local project centers, engaging stakeholders to design solutions communities actually adopt.

Communicate technical findings clearly to scientists, policymakers, and the public through reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement that drives action.

→ Explore the full environmental and sustainability studies BA curriculum in the academic catalog.

#15

Best Career Placement

The Princeton Review (2026)
#18

For 40-Year Long-Term Return on Investment (ROI)

U.S. News & World Report (2025)
#22

Best Value College/Top Return on Investment 

PayScale.com (2024)
Career

Environmental & Sustainability Studies Career & Salary Outlook

Career Path 

Industry Sector 

Entry Level (0–5 years) 

Mid-Level (5–10 years) 

Senior Level (10+ years) 
Sustainability & Environmental, Social, and Governance Consulting Sustainability Analyst
$60K		 Sustainability Manager
$95K		 Director of Sustainability
$145K
Environmental Policy & Planning Public Environmental Planner
$58K		 Senior Policy Analyst
$90K		 Director of Environmental Policy
$130K
Environmental Consulting Consulting Environmental Specialist
$58K		 Project Manager
$92K		 Principal Consultant
$140K
Conservation & Resource Management Public Conservation Associate
$52K		 Program Manager
$82K		 Director of Programs
$120K

Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Additional supports for ESS students include:

  • an annual, CDC-supported careers in sustainability networking and mentoring event 
  • an optional 1:1 mentor program for students interested in careers in sustainability
Tuition & Costs
Preview

Financing Your Future

College is a great investment in your future—and we’re here to help you plan for it. Explore WPI’s cost of attendance and learn how our Office of Financial Aid can guide you through options for funding your education. 

Financial Aid FAQs Cost of Attendance

Start Building Your Future Today

WPI’s simple formula helps students thrive: “Go to class. Do the work. Ask for help.” With our degree in environmental and sustainability studies, you’ll gain the skills, experience, and connections to drive sustainability across science, policy, and communities.

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